Spot Plays for Maryland Millions Day at Laurel Park

An all-stakes, 12-race card for Maryland-bred runners highlights a fantastic card at Laurel on Saturday.

Race 3 - Lassie S.

Juvenile fillies will vie in the six-furlong affair. I really liked the maiden win by #2 Luna Belle at Colonial Downs two back and will side with her in a tough heat. The Hamilton Smith pupil has not been consistent as of yet, but her best performance will give her a big chance late under Horacio Karamanos.

Race 6 - Turf Sprint S.

An overflow field of 11 is entered for the 5 1/2-furlong dash on the green. #9 Grateful Bred led to the turn for home before fading to fourth in the event last season, but the gelding appears to be a better animal this campaign. The son of Great Notion was a close fifth on the course with open stakes foes most recently, and slight improvement will have the five-year-old in the hunt late for trainer Madison Meyers.

Race 7 - Distaff S.

Fillies and mares will go seven panels on the dirt with seven going postward. #2 Hello Beautiful is eight-for-nine on the surface and comes in off of a 10-length stakes romp locally for trainer Brittany Russell. The Golden Lad four-year-old has drawn well to flash her considerable early speed, and it will take a big effort from another to keep her out of the winners’ circle on Saturday.

Race 10 - Sprint S.

An overflow cast of 12 is entered for the six-furlong test. Two-time stakes victor #7 Double Crown makes his first start for conditioner Tom Amoss and rates a big chance with even minor improvement in this spot. The consistently good son of Bourbon Courage performed well in the Sunshine State earlier this season, and I think that he will make good in his second voyage to Laurel, where he was a debut winner. Feargal Lynch will be in the stirrups.

Race 11 - Classic S.

The $150,000 feature will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main oval and attracts an overflow field of 13. #8 Tappin Cat has fine form with a handful of top-two finishes in succession, led by a stakes triumph at Delaware Park last time out. The gelded son of Tritap has plenty of local experience, and he will be flaunting his early speed from the outset beneath Jevian Toledo.