Daily Picks

Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — June 12, 2026

Friday, June 12, 20269 racesLaurel Park

It's a scorcher at Laurel Park this Friday — clear skies, 90°F on the thermometer, and nine races on the board. That kind of heat can take a toll late in a race, so stamina and class are going to matter more than usual today, especially in the two route races on turf.

The card is a nice mix: five turf routes and sprints spread across the day, four dirt tests, and a range of conditions from maiden special weights to allowance company. Whether you're here for a casual Friday play or grinding every race, there's plenty to dig into.

TrackWiz has full analysis ready across all nine races. The first three are on us — free to every reader — and races 4 through 9 are unlocked for subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A nine-horse turf mile with a clear class standout lurking at mid-range odds — the morning line favorite isn't the top-rated horse, which sets up a potential overlay situation worth exploiting.

win3Stay in TuneML 4/1

Stay in Tune earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 85.62 — a significant gap over the rest of the card. Trained by Kieron Magee and ridden by Jorge Ruiz, she carries a 25% career win rate, the highest in the race, and her average speed figure of 54 is a tick ahead of most rivals. At 4/1 on the morning line, she's not the chalk despite owning the best numbers, which is exactly the kind of spot where value and quality align on the turf.

place2Back Wall BanditML 6/1

Back Wall Bandit (6/1) is quietly dangerous here with a 71.08 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field — and a 22% career win rate for trainer John J. Robb. Jose E. Vargas takes the mount, and at morning line odds of 6/1, there's real place value if the top pick hits any trouble in the one-mile trip.

show8WhatsyourbigideaML 3/1

Whatsyourbigidea opens at 3/1 on the morning line and checks in with a 55.85 rating, but that career win rate of just 5% is a flag — this one hits the board more than she wins. Trainer Lacey Gaudet and Forest Boyce give her a respectable connections package, and she's a horse you want in your exotics as a hedge rather than a standalone play.

Race 2

4:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 5½-furlong dirt sprint features a top-rated runner who also brings the best win percentage in the field — rare alignment that usually means a short price, but today's morning line keeps it reasonable.

win3CademanML 5/2

Cademan is the standout with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — tops in this field by a clear margin — and backs it up with a 25% career win rate, the best in the race. Trainer Renaldo Richards puts Matilda Burnham in the irons, and the combination of elite rating, strong win percentage, and an average speed of 54 makes Cademan the horse to beat at 5/2. Speed figures and consistency both point the same direction here.

place6Big Mo GeeML 6/1

Big Mo Gee sits second in TrackWiz ratings at 76.48 and owns a 9% career win rate for trainer Timothy Shanley. Jeiron Barbosa takes the call, and while the horse doesn't have an average speed on file, the rating alone keeps Big Mo Gee firmly in the place conversation at 6/1 — a price worth targeting in the exacta.

show1Speedy AlexML 8/5

Speedy Alex opens as the morning line favorite at 8/5 with a 74.81 rating, but a 9% career win rate is modest for a chalk. Trainer Jose Corrales sends out Jorge F. Hernandez, and while this one may not close the deal at the wire, the raw talent keeps Speedy Alex very much alive for show honors and as a key in wide exotics.

Race 3

4:59 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Maiden Special Weight on the turf at 1 1/16 miles — every horse in here is winless, so it comes down to raw ability and TrackWiz ratings, with one horse separating itself from the pack.

win5SkycrossML 7/2

Skycross owns the top TrackWiz rating in this MSW field at 86.35 — a meaningful edge over the second-ranked horse — and carries an average speed of 53 with trainer Miguel Vera and Jean Gregor Briceno in the saddle. At 7/2 on the morning line, this is a horse the market respects but doesn't overbet. In a race where every runner is looking for their first win, the one with the most upside in our model is the logical top selection.

place3Margie's LastML 5/1

Margie's Last brings a 67.76 rating — second best in the field — for trainer Georgia D. Andreadakis with Jose E. Vargas riding. At 5/1, she offers solid place value behind the top choice, and the average speed of 52 is consistent with the rest of the field. In maiden races on turf, closers often pick up pieces, and this one fits that profile at a workable price.

show8Se Thar BarrML 8/1

Se Thar Barr is the sneaky number in this race — she posts an average speed figure of 55, the highest in the field, and her TrackWiz rating of 67.29 is right on Margie's Last's heels. Trainer Susan S. Cooney sends her out at 8/1 with Horacio Karamanos up, and the raw speed combined with that rating makes her a legitimate show contender and a horse worth including in trifecta tickets.

Our three free races kick things off strong. Race 1 sends Stay in Tune (morning line 4/1) to the Laurel turf at a mile — a solid opener with a TrackWiz rating of 85.62 that suggests a well-rounded profile for this level. Race 2 flips to the dirt for a 5½-furlong claiming sprint, where Cademan (5/2 ML, rated 87.81) is our top-rated pick of the free trio — look for pace pressure to play right into his hands. Race 3 rounds out the freebies with maiden special weight action back on the turf, and Skycross (7/2 ML, 86.35) looks well-placed in a field where class separations matter.

With the turf playing under clear skies and no rain in the forecast, the grass course should be firm and fast — a surface that tends to reward horses with tactical speed rather than deep closers. Keep that in mind as you watch the early turf races for surface clues heading into the afternoon.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A Starter Optional Claiming sprint at 6 furlongs on dirt where two horses are bunched at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — this race comes down to a tight matchup between the top two picks, with the rest of the field playing catch-up.

win1Book of WisdomML 7/2

Book of Wisdom tops the TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and gets Angel Cruz up for trainer Emanuel J. Geralis in this 6-furlong dirt sprint. The 11% career win rate is modest, but the rating says this horse is performing at a higher level than that number suggests — sometimes the form cycle is trending up. At 7/2 on the morning line, this is TrackWiz's top-rated runner in a race where the conditions suit, and that's a combination we don't want to fade.

place6R Averie LynnML 3/1

R Averie Lynn is just a half-point behind the top pick in our ratings at 84.88, and her 24% career win rate is comfortably the second-best in this field. Trainer Michael E. Gorham sends Raul E. Mena out at 3/1, and in a race where pace could set up for closers, this horse's strong win percentage suggests she knows how to finish. The tight rating gap between first and second in our model makes the exacta here worth playing both ways.

show2I Can Do ItML 6/1

I Can Do It opens at 6/1 for trainer Robert E. Gamber with Jean C. Alvelo riding, and the 78.30 TrackWiz rating is third-best in the field while the 13% career win rate is solid for this level. The average speed of 53 is right in the mix, and at morning line odds of 6/1, there's enough value here to make this horse a worthwhile show bet and an exacta/trifecta underneath.

Race 5

5:55 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Turf

An allowance turf mile that pits the morning line second choice — who owns our top rating by a wide margin — against a heavily-backed European runner and a field of horses with real ability. The gap in ratings is hard to ignore.

win2Drilling for GoldML 2/1

Drilling for Gold checks in with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the best in this allowance field and a significant gap over the third-ranked horse — backed by a 21% career win rate and an average speed of 54. Sheldon Russell gets the mount for trainer Brittany T. Russell, a barn that clearly knows this horse well. At 2/1, this isn't a big overlay, but the combination of top rating, consistent speed, and a sharp connections package makes this our most confident selection of the day.

place8Vaya JeffeML 10/1

Vaya Jeffe is the value angle in this race at 10/1 on the morning line — a 67.27 rating and 16% career win rate for trainer Anthony Farrior with Jevian Toledo up. The average speed of 54 matches the top horses in this field, and at double-digit odds, this is exactly the kind of horse who can sneak into the exacta while the crowd focuses on the morning line chalk.

show1DairagoML 9/2

Dairago carries a 65.41 rating and an eye-catching 33% career win rate — the highest in the field — for trainer W. Robert Bailes with Jose E. Vargas in the irons. That win percentage suggests a horse who converts when conditions fit, and while the 9/2 morning line price isn't generous, Dairago belongs in your exotic plays as a legitimate threat to hit the board.

Race 6

6:23 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A massive 16-horse maiden claiming field on the turf sprint — races like this are chaotic by nature, but one horse has a clear rating advantage over a deep, winless group, making the top pick stand out despite the crowd.

win14Forty Seven SmokerML 7/2

Forty Seven Smoker tops this wide field with a 73.77 TrackWiz rating and an average speed of 54, giving her tangible advantages in a maiden claiming race where most horses are still finding their footing. Jorge Ruiz rides for trainer Mark Shuman, who also has Barbed Wire Barbie in this race — a sign the barn is comfortable here. At 7/2, this is a fair price for the top-rated runner in a chaotic 16-horse turf sprint.

place10Poney IslandML 10/1

Poney Island at 10/1 is a genuine value play for the place slot — 59.71 rating, average speed of 53, and trainer Gina Perri has a second runner in this race (Fortune Garden), which often signals a barn confident in its spot. Jean C. Alvelo takes the call, and at double-digit morning line odds, the place price here could be very attractive if the tote reflects the field size correctly.

show12Barbed Wire BarbieML 9/5

Barbed Wire Barbie opens as the 9/5 morning line favorite with an average speed of 55 — the best in this race — and a 58.67 TrackWiz rating. Trainer Mark Shuman also has the top pick Forty Seven Smoker here, but Barbed Wire Barbie's raw speed numbers are hard to ignore. At short odds she's thin to win, but she figures prominently in any show or trifecta ticket you're building.

Race 7

6:52 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

First-time starters and lightly-raced maidens collide in a 5-furlong dirt sprint where nobody has won before — the speed figures are absent across the board, so this one comes down to trainer patterns, pedigree, and trust in our ratings model.

win1Poll PositionML 5/2

Poll Position opens as the 5/2 morning line choice and earns the top TrackWiz rating in this maiden dirt sprint at 57.50 — a modest edge, but a real one in a race where everyone is zero-for. Trainer Michael J. Trombetta is a sharp conditioner who typically has his first-time starters ready, and Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call. In wide-open maiden sprints, backing the top-rated horse with a respected trainer is as logical a play as you'll find.

place3Paris by NightML 3/1

Paris by Night carries a 56.67 rating — right on the heels of our top pick — for trainer John J. Robb, who also has Pelican Pier in this race. Robb is doubling up here, which sometimes means he's split on which one fires first, but Paris by Night draws the better odds at 3/1 and gets Xavier Perez up. In a race this tight at the top, including both Robb runners in your exotic tickets is worth serious consideration.

show9Gypsy LullabyML 4/1

Gypsy Lullaby opens at 4/1 for trainer Jose Corrales — another barn doubling up, as Corrales also sends out Legend's Girl — and the 55.00 TrackWiz rating is third-best in the field. Yedsit Hazlewood takes the ride, and in a sprint full of unknowns, Gypsy Lullaby's consistent rating keeps her firmly on our trifecta radar at a price that makes the bet worthwhile.

Race 8

7:25 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A 10-horse turf sprint allowance with a potential hidden gem at the top of our ratings — the morning line tells one story, but TrackWiz sees a different horse leading this field, and the gap between first and second in our model is worth noting.

win10SassafrassnessML 9/2

Sassafrassness is the TrackWiz top pick here at 84.90, but she opens at 9/2 on the morning line — a clear overlay compared to what our ratings suggest. The 50% career win rate is the standout stat in this entire card, and an average speed of 55 ranks among the best in the field. Trainer Jamie Ness puts Yedsit Hazlewood up, and in a sprint on the turf where win percentage matters most, a horse who converts half her starts is an elite commodity.

place9SomniumML 2/1

Somnium is the morning line favorite at 2/1 with a 77.72 TrackWiz rating, 27% career win rate, and an average speed of 57 — the joint-highest in this race. Trainer Elizabeth M. Merryman sends out Jevian Toledo, one of Laurel's sharper riders. This horse has the raw speed to be dangerous, and while our model prefers Sassafrassness, Somnium is absolutely the most dangerous horse in a pace scenario where early speed holds on this turf course.

show7NoquestionaboutitML 5/2

Noquestionaboutit posts an average speed of 57 — matching Somnium for tops in the field — and a 73.10 TrackWiz rating with a 25% career win rate. Trainer Michael J. Trombetta, who knows this circuit well, gives Jorge Ruiz the mount, and at 5/2 on the morning line this horse is competitive with the top two in our picks. A solid third option who makes the trifecta very intriguing.

Race 9

7:56 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The closing race is a 1 1/16-mile maiden dirt route where our top-rated horse is not the morning line favorite — that kind of divergence between market and model is where TrackWiz analysis adds the most value.

win2Good Man DanML 6/1

Good Man Dan earns the top TrackWiz rating in this maiden route at 76.89 — a meaningful gap over the 8/5 favorite — and posts an average speed of 53 for trainer Henry Walters with Jevian Toledo in the irons. At 6/1 on the morning line, this horse represents genuine overlay value if you trust the ratings, and Toledo's presence adds confidence since he's one of the sharper closers at the meet. In a 1 1/16-mile dirt maiden, pace scenarios often benefit the horse who can sit off the pace and close — Good Man Dan looks built for that trip.

place1President CamachoML 8/5

President Camacho opens as the 8/5 morning line chalk for trainer Horacio De Paz with Kevin Gomez up, and the 59.00 TrackWiz rating is solid even if it trails our top pick. The average speed of 52 is middle-of-the-pack, but the market clearly likes this horse — and when the crowd and our model diverge, the place slot is a smart hedge. Including both the 1 and 2 in your exacta is a reasonable play here.

show4Max HasteML 2/1

Max Haste is the 2/1 second choice on the morning line for trainer Michael Stidham with Yedsit Hazlewood aboard, and the 58.33 TrackWiz rating puts this horse in a tight cluster at the top of the field. Stidham ships horses to regional meets with purpose, and Hazlewood knows this track well. At 2/1, there's limited show value on price, but Max Haste belongs in trifecta tickets as a legitimate threat to hit the board in a race that figures to be competitive throughout.

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A hot Friday card at Laurel Park with legitimate plays throughout. Stay in Tune, Cademan, and Skycross are your free best bets to start the day. For the full nine-race breakdown — including Drilling for Gold in Race 5 and longshot angles in Race 9 — unlock the complete analysis with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing. Good luck at the windows.

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