ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, END RESULT

FIRST RACE

END RESULT and HER ROYAL HIGHNESS both exit debuts in which they finished second. Of the two, the edge goes to END RESULT, who earned the higher Beyer (65 compared to 60). She also managed her second in a deep, 12-horse field while chasing the pace. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, on the other hand, got closer at the finish, losing by just a length and a quarter, compared to 5 3/4 lengths for END RESULT. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS is a half to stakes winner Catcha Rising Star, while END RESULT is related to a couple of stakes placed runners. As for the others, CLARA ALLEN appears among the most interesting, dropping out of a Belmont maiden race after finishing a well-beaten fourth in her lone start. A daughter of Curlin, she seems likely to improve on a stretch out in distance from six furlongs to a mile.

SECOND RACE

JUSTANARCH possesses speed and sharp maiden claiming form. After being disqualified from first in a race at Timonium, she has a fourth and two seconds, with one of those runner-up finishes coming here at Laurel under identical maiden $10,000 conditions. GATEAU ST HONORE, a midpack closer, races for the lowest tag of her career after a flat effort when seventh for maiden $16,000 most recently. If one excuses that race, her form is respectable, though her faster races have come on turf, not on today’s dirt surface. BAGELS AND LOX has the quickness to contend from the start in this 5 1/2-furlong race, and she has managed three on-the-board finishes from seven starts. The strike against her is a layoff dating back to June, which could place her at a fitness disadvantage.

THIRD RACE

Hoping EVEN THUNDER might slip past the public in the wagering to where he offers value as a viable alternative to likely favorite TIZ HE THE ONE. Though just 1 for 16 in 2017-2018, EVEN THUNDER has kept difficult company for much of that stretch and was second at Laurel when last racing in a third-level allowance/optional claimer such as this one. He was claimed from that race and returned to be fifth in the six-furlong Fabulous Strike at Penn. Better suited to this company and mile trip. No doubt, TIZ HE THE ONE is the one to beat, coming off a blowout win and 100 Beyer, one of three victories from four starts on the Laurel main track. Hard to fault - just is expected to be a short price and is stepping up a notch within the allowance ranks. SARATOGA JACK is the one to catch, a speedster that has shown the way before weakening to third and second in his last two starts.

FOURTH RACE

SMILE BRYAN improved second out with a runner-up finish Nov. 1 going seven furlongs, showing the way and losing by 2 1/2 lengths to return allowance winner Olympic Village. Although no match for ‘Village, this one wasn’t stopping - staying on for the place after looking like he might get passed and fade to third in midstretch. DANZ A REBEL is the other one in this lineup with established form, having been in the money in all four of his starts. A little slow to get going in his latest, he made a bid on the turn to reach contention in at Penn National before running evenly down the lane. He was moved up from third to second due to the frontrunner being disqualified for drifting in front of him in the stretch. GOING FOR GOLD, one of nine first timers in this maiden race, sold well at auction for $80,000 earlier this year - a hefty price for a son of Atreides that is out of an unraced dam with no foals yet to race; worked a bullet going five furlongs last month.

FIFTH RACE

DONE ACTING is relatively short of speed but has nevertheless managed to win three of 11 dirt races. Comes off a pair of new Beyer “tops” in two starts for his current barn, one of which came on turf, which does not even appear to be his preferred surface. SOCIAL STRANGER ran decently to be a close fifth against similar when sprinting last out and seems a better fit at today’s mile distance; goes second off the claim and is a winner of 8 for 31 starts when the track has been fast - conditions expected Sunday. HURRICANE BEAR possesses speed and comes a solid fourth at Charles Town in an allowance. He chased the pace, held second until the eighth pole, and was only beaten a nose for the show; 4-1-1-1 on the Laurel main track.

SIXTH RACE

C. D. JAMMIN romped first off the claim at Charles Town for owner Robert Cole, whose horses have won at a 38% clip in 2017-2018. A short-distance specialist, this one is untested at Laurel but is otherwise appealing in what seems a contentious starter going five furlongs. TOOK OVER is proven locally, having won three of six at Laurel. Plus, he just took his show on the road to Penn National, where he was a blowout winner Nov. 10. CHIEF OF STAFF acts like one of the classiest runners in the field, but is accustomed to racing longer distances. Cutting back to five eighths could lessen his effectiveness.

SEVENTH RACE

GIRL DRAMA is the class of this nickel N2L, having faced better in four starts in California. She also has speed and now joins the winning Laurel barn of trainer Claudio Gonzalez. Aggressively spotted no doubt due to having faded to lose by 10 lengths or more in three of her four races. GFOUR struggled over the second half of August and in September before taking a drop to this $5,000 level Oct. 27 and finishing third in a well-rated contest in the slop. Even so, she just barely got up for the show by a head. Deep closing style is a drawback - such types often settle for minor awards. PETTICOATSNPISTOLS and DANCINGWITHPAYNTER are other contenders, class droppers that should appreciate facing $5,000 company - though both have faults. PETTICOATSNPISTOLS is 22-1-2-9, and DANCINGWITHPAYNTER seems to prefer turf, on which she is 7-1-2-1, compared to dirt, where she is 5-0-0-1.

EIGHTH RACE

Perhaps sky-high confidence from LADY VICKI who has rattled off three in a row against much easier - can lead her to handle the rise into an allowance. Her figures are on the upswing, as well. CILANTRO is the likely favorite, coming from New York, where she raced against much classier in allowance races there. She has underachieved relative to her odds in all three of her races since the summer, however. MIZ CREED is a lightly raced miss with the potential to improve. She won first out on the lead and then weakened to third in her first attempt in allowance company.

NINTH RACE

DOIT FOR SPITE rallied to be second first off the claim at the $12,500 level, and is now dropped back in for $5,000. She appears to hold a class edge and looks poised to pick up her second victory if she can replicate the effort she put forth vs. better last out. THALIA’S SONG fits on form, having proven a regular factor in N2L claimers. But she rates behind the top choice due to a tendency to get outfinished in the final furlong after looming at the head of the lane. TIDY STRIPE disappointed most recently when sixth, but was claimed out of that race by a winning barn. Gets blinkers added and her speed figures two and three races back suggest she can contend with a return to her best.