Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — May 23, 2026
It's a damp Saturday at Laurel Park — rain is falling and temps are sitting at a cool 56°F, which means track conditions are going to be the story of the afternoon. Nine races are on the board, split between dirt and turf, and that wet weather is worth paying close attention to before you finalize any tickets.
The turf is the immediate question mark. Laurel's course can range from playable to flooded depending on drainage, so keep an eye on official surface reports as they come in. If races get moved to the dirt, our TrackWiz ratings will tell you which horses have the form to handle the switch — and which ones you should fade without hesitation.
Even with the soggy conditions, this is a card with some genuine intrigue. We've got claiming races, maiden fields, allowance company, and one horse in Race 8 who our model rates as the strongest single play of the day. Nine races, plenty of angles, let's break it down.
Best Bets
Race 1
Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf
A wide-open turf claiming mile-and-sixteenth with a clear class standout at the top, but several live longshots lurking in a contentious field of ten.
Fridayswithmurray (2) is the class of this field by a significant margin — a TrackWiz rating of 88.83 towers over the second-best horse in here. Trainer Jamie Ness puts the horse on the turf at 1 1/16 miles, a setup that aligns well with that avg speed of 54. At 9/5 on the morning line, the crowd agrees, but the rating gap justifies the favoritism. Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call, and with a 14% career win rate behind this horse, there's a reliable base to build on.
Finn McSorley (1) checks in with a solid TrackWiz rating of 59.16 and draws the rail under Tais Lyapustina for trainer Niall Saville. The 9/2 morning line suggests some public respect, and a 10% career win rate on a router's profile makes him a logical place contender in what could be a pace-influenced race. He's the kind of horse that finds himself with cover and runs on late on turf.
Owhatanite (4) posts a 57.56 rating and draws favorably with Jeiron Barbosa aboard for Suzanne Stettinius, who also saddles Great Artist in this race — a trainer who doubles up usually has a plan. At 5/1, there's fair value here as an exotic anchor. The 9% career win rate is modest, but show-level reliability on turf at this distance makes him a reasonable inclusion in trifecta tickets.
Race 2
Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt
A baby maiden special weight sprint on dirt where the two chalk horses are separated by a razor-thin rating, setting up a potential dead-heat for the top of the exotics.
Island Bandit (3) earns the narrow TrackWiz rating edge at 59.17 in a field where all horses are first-time starters with no published speed figures — which means trainer patterns and workouts carry extra weight. John J. Robb also saddles Pelican Pier here, suggesting confidence in the barn, and Island Bandit draws Xavier Perez, a competent pilot who knows how to break a raw horse cleanly out of the gate. At 3/2 on the morning line, the market respects this one.
Remembertheword (4) sits just a sliver behind at a 59.00 TrackWiz rating and comes in at 8/5 — actually the tightest morning line price in the field. Trainer Jose Corrales doubles up in this race with Baru as well, and when a conditioner brings two horses to a maiden sprint, it usually means the barn feels ready. Yedsit Hazlewood takes the mount, and this could easily be the one that beats Island Bandit if the pace sets up differently.
Pelican Pier (1) rates third at 55.83 and is part of the Robb barn's two-horse entry — the second string to Island Bandit but far from an afterthought. Angel Cruz rides, and a 7/2 morning line reflects a horse the market views as a legitimate threat. In an all-maiden sprint where any of the top three could break on top and wire the field, Pelican Pier is a sensible show bet and show-position exotic inclusion.
Race 3
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf
A maiden claiming turf sprint with a legitimate standout at the top of the ratings, though a well-regarded 8/5 second choice makes this a two-horse race worth structuring exotics around.
Vida (7) dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this field with an 87.81 — a full ten points clear of the next horse. Trainer Somraj Singh sends this one out at 5/2 on the morning line, and Tais Lyapustina, who also rides Finn McSorley earlier in the card, takes the assignment. With an avg speed of 52 in maiden claiming turf company, Vida looks like a horse with enough raw material to graduate here. The price is fair given the class advantage.
Karma's Inthehouse (8) is the morning line favorite at 8/5 and carries a 77.22 rating — second only to Vida in this field. Taylor Kingsley rides for trainer Diana L. McClure, and an avg speed figure of 53 on turf gives this one legitimate competitive credentials. If Vida has any trouble in traffic or breaks poorly, Karma's Inthehouse has the profile to swoop in and steal the race, making her a strong place selection.
Flying to Work (1) is the value play in the show spot, checking in with a 65.14 TrackWiz rating at 12/1 on the morning line — outstanding odds for a horse that rates third-best in the field. Jevian Toledo rides for Jonathan Maldonado, and an avg speed of 53 is competitive in maiden claiming turf company. At double-digit odds, Flying to Work could be a trifecta key if the top two run 1-2 as expected.
Our three free races — Races 1, 2, and 3 — give you a solid foundation to start the card. Fridayswithmurray opens things up in a turf claiming mile and a sixteenth, carrying an 88.83 TrackWiz rating and morning-line favoritism at 9/5. That number is the highest of the three free picks and for good reason. Over in Race 2, Island Bandit draws our attention in a short 4½-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt — a surface that, given today's rain, could be playing fast and deep depending on how much has already fallen. Maiden dirt sprints on wet tracks often produce pace meltdowns, so watch for closers to sneak into the picture. Race 3 brings us back to the turf with Vida at 5/2 in a maiden claiming sprint — an 87.81 rating that suggests she's well-placed at this level.
The connective thread across these three free races is straightforward: class relief and surface suitability matter enormously today. Any horse with strong wet-weather form or proven dirt versatility gets a bump in our projections. Don't overlook that angle as you handicap the early races yourself.
Full Card Analysis
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Bottom line: it's a tricky day at Laurel with rain in the mix and turf conditions to monitor, but the card delivers real opportunities for sharp players. Fridayswithmurray, Island Bandit, and Vida headline the free plays, while Easy Action stands out as the marquee single on the entire card. For pace projections, exotic strategies, and the full nine-race breakdown, TrackWiz subscribers have everything they need. Good luck out there — and stay dry.