Daily Picks

Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — June 28, 2026

Sunday, June 28, 20269 racesLaurel Park

Laurel Park is putting up a full 9-race card this Sunday, June 28, and the conditions are about as cooperative as you could ask for in late June — cloudy skies and a comfortable 75°F means no heat stress on the horses and, crucially, the turf courses should be running true. Three of today's nine races are contested on the grass, and with the ground holding firm, turf form should translate well.

The card is a nice mix of conditions — you've got claiming races to open things up, a pair of allowance optional claiming spots in the middle, and a turf allowance to close it out in Race 8. There's something here for every kind of bettor, whether you're grinding singles or building multi-race sequences. Our TrackWiz ratings surfaced two horses hitting a 90 on the day — more on both of them below.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

The top of the TrackWiz ratings board is clustered tightly in this 5.5-furlong turf claimer, but Frye Island owns a meaningful edge at the top — the question is whether the pace sets up for closers to make a move.

win2Frye IslandML 2/1

Frye Island is the clear TrackWiz top-rated horse in this field at 88.54, and the morning line favorite at 2/1 reflects that standing. A 16% career win rate is the best among the contenders at the top of the board, and Jose E. Vargas gets the call from trainer Anthony Farrior. On the short 5.5-furlong turf sprint, Frye Island's combination of rating edge and win efficiency makes this a justified top selection.

place4Tik Tok DaddyML 6/1

Tik Tok Daddy sits third on the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71, and at 6/1 on the morning line there's genuine value if this horse runs to that number. Jean Gregor Briceno takes the mount for trainer Hassan Elamri, and while the 4% career win rate is modest, ratings-based form can outperform raw win percentage in fields like this.

show8FrappartML 7/2

Frappart rounds out the top three with an 81.41 rating and the most impressive career win percentage among the top-rated trio at 20%. Trainer Katharine M. Voss and jockey Angel Cruz are a familiar combination, and this horse's win record suggests consistent competitiveness — a solid inclusion in exacta and trifecta exotics.

Race 2

4:34 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Manseeyasway carries the highest TrackWiz rating by a significant margin in this 7-furlong dirt claimer, but the morning-line favorite Cat Fast figures to generate pace pressure and keeps things honest.

win6ManseeyaswayML 5/2

Manseeyasway is the standout here with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — more than 10 points clear of the next horse. At 5/2 on the morning line, the odds are fair for a horse with this kind of ratings advantage. Jose E. Vargas gets the mount for trainer Anthony Farrior, the same barn that fires with Frye Island earlier in the card, suggesting an active and confident stable.

place5Cat FastML 6/5

Cat Fast is the morning-line chalk at 6/5 and rates second in this field at 77.09, giving Emanuel Rosario a horse with legitimate speed figures relative to the group. The 10% career win rate is modest, but short-priced favorites in claiming company often hit the board even when they can't win outright — Cat Fast looks like a safe place horse in the exotics.

show4Night RavenML 8/1

Night Raven is worth a spot in the exotics at 8/1 morning line. The 72.64 TrackWiz rating is third-best in the field, and Angel Cruz gets the mount for trainer Ramon Davila Aguayo. If the top two hook up early and tire each other out, Night Raven's rating suggests the talent to pick up the pieces.

Race 3

5:05 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Maiden claiming on the turf at 1 1/16 miles — these are all winless horses, but Rylnnslookinglucky owns a massive TrackWiz rating advantage over the rest of the field and figures to be the one to beat at every exotic level.

win1RylnnslookingluckyML 8/5

Rylnnslookinglucky tops the TrackWiz ratings at 89.12, which is enormous separation over the second-rated horse at 54.64. Angel Cruz picks up the mount for trainer Kenneth M. Cox, who also enters the second horse in this field — a stable doubling up suggests confidence in the barn's form. At 8/5 on the morning line, the price is short but the ratings case is hard to argue with.

place6Quality SwagML 5/1

Quality Swag rates second in this maiden field at 54.64 and is a solid 35 points below the top selection — but in a maiden race, upsets happen, and at 5/1 morning line there's real value in landing on this Emanuel Rosario-piloted Horacio De Paz trainee for the exacta. The average speed figure of 51 is modest, but the competitive rating relative to the rest of the field makes Quality Swag a logical place target.

show5Good AxeML 6/1

Good Axe slots in at third on the TrackWiz board at 51.67, trained by the well-known Jamie Ness, who is always worth noting in maiden events. The 54 average speed figure is actually the top mark in the field among the show contenders, and at 6/1 morning line, stacking this horse underneath in trifectas behind the top two is a reasonable play.

Our three free preview races — Races 1, 2, and 3 — give you a solid early-card foundation to work with. On the turf in Race 1, Frye Island opens as the 2/1 morning-line favorite and carries an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, a strong number for a 5½-furlong turf claimer. Cloudy, mild conditions suit turf sprinters just fine — no firm-going concerns here. In Race 2, the 7-furlong dirt claimer, Manseeyasway checks in at 87.81 and goes off at 5/2 — a fair price for a horse our model likes at this distance and surface. Then in Race 3, Rylnnslookinglucky is the morning-line favorite at 8/5 in the 1 1/16-mile turf maiden claimer and leads all three free picks with an 89.12 rating. Maiden turf routes can be tricky to handicap, but when our model this confident on a single horse, that's worth noting.

One angle connecting the early turf races: with the course playing fair today and no rain in the forecast, horses with clean turf form profiles should hold an edge over first-time grass runners. Keep that in mind as you handicap Races 1 and 3 on your own.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:37 PM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

This 7-furlong dirt allowance has a dominant figure at the top in Vanilla, but La Chismosa and She's Not a Lad bring legitimate career win percentages that suggest they won't go quietly.

win4VanillaML 9/5

Vanilla is the clear top choice here with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — nearly 12 points clear of the second-rated La Chismosa. The 50% career win rate is an eye-popping number that screams class, and trainer Jamie Ness sends this horse out at 9/5 morning line with Yedsit Hazlewood aboard. That career win percentage tells you this horse knows how to close out a race — Vanilla is the best bet of the race.

place7La ChismosaML 5/2

La Chismosa rates second on the TrackWiz board at 77.47 and brings a 33% career win rate, which is genuinely strong for allowance company. Sheldon Russell takes the reins for trainer Renaldo Richards, and at 5/2 morning line, this horse's consistent winning profile makes it a reliable place option in exactas alongside Vanilla.

show5She's Not a LadML 5/1

She's Not a Lad posts a 28% career win rate — the second-best in the field — and rates third at 64.71. Joseph Rocco, Jr. rides for trainer John E. Salzman, Jr., and at 5/1, this is a horse that hits the board regularly enough to justify a spot in the trifecta bottom.

Race 5

6:09 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Worcester comes in as the TrackWiz top-rated horse at 88.54 with a matching morning line of 2/1, but Indy Charges On's 35% career win rate and Stronsino's solid rating make the bottom of exotics genuinely competitive in this allowance optional claiming route.

win6WorcesterML 2/1

Worcester is the top TrackWiz-rated horse at 88.54, well clear of the field, and at 2/1 the market agrees. Trainer Jamie Ness fields Worcester alongside Stronsino in this same race — when a top barn double-enters, the horse with the stronger rating is usually the preferred runner. Martin Chuan gets the mount, and with a 31% career win rate, Worcester profiles as a horse that consistently converts form into wins at this level.

place2StronsinoML 7/2

Stronsino, also trained by Jamie Ness, rates at 74.43 and carries an 18% career win rate. At 7/2 morning line, there's value in the place spot — stablemate dynamics sometimes play out with one horse making the pace and the other benefiting, and Stronsino's rating is strong enough to suggest a natural place effort without needing everything to go right.

show4Indy Charges OnML 3/1

Indy Charges On brings the most compelling career win percentage among the non-Worcester runners at 35%, trained by Lacey Gaudet and ridden by Carol Cedeno. The 73.62 TrackWiz rating is nearly even with Stronsino, and at 3/1, this horse is third on the morning line for a reason — consistent performers in the win column tend to find the board.

Race 6

6:41 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

This maiden special weight on the turf sprint is wide open among several lightly experienced runners, but Matthew's Ticket owns a significant TrackWiz edge over a field full of unknowns — the first-time starters and low-rated horses make this an uncertain race underneath the top pick.

win9Matthew's TicketML 9/2

Matthew's Ticket tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.90, a significant margin above Notion in Motion's 66.62. Trainer Phillip Capuano is a sharp conditioner, and Yedsit Hazlewood gets the call at 9/2 morning line — there's some value here relative to the ratings edge. In a maiden field where multiple horses have average speed figures of 0 or unestablished, that 54 average speed figure offers some grounding.

place7Notion in MotionML 4/1

Notion in Motion rates second in the field at 66.62 and posts a 56 average speed figure, tied for the top mark in the race. Jose E. Vargas takes the mount for trainer Valora A. Testerman, and at 4/1, this horse figures to be competitive enough to hit the board in a wide-open maiden sprint. The above-average speed figure in a maiden turf race is a meaningful differentiator.

show3Story of RoryML 5/1

Story of Rory clocks in at 63.17 on the TrackWiz board and also shows a 55 average speed figure — solid numbers in this field. Carol Cedeno rides for trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter, and at 5/1, Story of Rory is the kind of horse worth stacking in the bottom of a trifecta when the top two are holding down the primary slots.

Race 7

7:13 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Spidey Man is the dominant force in this 6-furlong dirt allowance optional claimer — a 3/5 morning line favorite with a 90 TrackWiz rating and a 66% career win rate doesn't leave much room for debate at the top, but the underneath spots are worth exploring for exotic value.

win6Spidey ManML 3/5

Spidey Man is about as clear a top selection as you'll find on a card — a 90 TrackWiz rating (the ceiling in this field by a wide margin), a 66% career win rate that borders on remarkable, and a 3/5 morning line that the market has priced accordingly. Jamie Ness trains, Yedsit Hazlewood rides, and the 55 average speed figure is tops in the race. Single this horse on top of your exotics and move on.

place3Connor's CrewML 7/2

Connor's Crew rates second in the field at 79.10 and brings a 25% career win rate, making this Sheldon Russell/Robert E. Reid Jr. combination a logical place selection. At 7/2 morning line, Connor's Crew figures to battle for second against a field that's clearly a step below the heavy favorite.

show5Red SpitfireML 8/1

Red Spitfire at 8/1 morning line is the value play in the third spot. The 60.19 TrackWiz rating and 33% career win rate tell you this Forest Boyce/Phillip Capuano runner knows how to hit the board. In a race where Spidey Man is likely to dominate, the fight for second and third is where exotics are won — Red Spitfire's win rate makes it a credible show threat.

Race 8

7:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Brat Pack enters this 1 1/16-mile turf allowance as an even-money morning line favorite with a 90 TrackWiz rating — H. Graham Motion's charge is the class of the field, though Ixchel and American Tapit give the exotics some structure underneath.

win6Brat PackML EVN

Brat Pack is the top-rated horse in the race at 90 and the morning line has this one at even money — a number that reflects dominant form. H. Graham Motion is one of the sharpest turf trainers in the Mid-Atlantic, and Yedsit Hazlewood gets the mount. A 33% career win rate in allowance company confirms this horse shows up when it matters — Brat Pack is our strongest play of Race 8.

place4IxchelML 5/1

Ixchel rates third in the field at 75.29 but brings the best career win percentage among the non-favorites at 25%. Sheldon Russell takes the reins for trainer Brittany T. Russell at 5/1 morning line — this is a horse that's been in the winner's circle before and at this distance on turf, the profile fits for a place spot. A useful exacta partner with Brat Pack.

show3American TapitML 3/1

American Tapit is the second pick on the morning line at 3/1 and rates second on the TrackWiz board at 69.98. Angel Cruz rides for Horacio De Paz, and a 14% career win rate at this level is respectable. The 54 average speed figure is consistent with the field, and at 3/1, this horse is a natural trifecta anchor for the show slot.

Race 9

8:17 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a 6-furlong dirt claimer where Ecumenical's superior TrackWiz rating sets it apart from the morning-line favorite Pudge Boy Palace — an interesting market vs. model divergence that makes this race one of the more compelling betting spots on the card.

win2EcumenicalML 3/1

Ecumenical tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 — nearly 10 points clear of Pudge Boy Palace — and carries a 28% career win rate that ranks as one of the stronger marks in the field. The morning line has this horse at 3/1 despite our model preferring it, which is exactly the kind of overlay to target. Jorge F. Hernandez handles the mount for trainer Hugh I. McMahon, a Laurel-based barn worth respecting. When the ratings say one thing and the morning line says another, that's where value hides.

place1Pudge Boy PalaceML 8/5

Pudge Boy Palace is the morning-line favorite at 8/5, so it doesn't win this race without showing up — and Yedsit Hazlewood is a capable pilot for trainer Jose Corrales. The 77.55 TrackWiz rating is second-best, and the 17% career win rate supports a horse that competes consistently. Even if Ecumenical wins at a price, Pudge Boy Palace figures to hit the board and protect your exacta.

show6Seven's ElevenML 5/1

Seven's Eleven at 5/1 morning line offers third-best ratings in the field at 72.60 and a 21% career win rate that suggests this horse is competitive in company like this. Angel Cruz rides for trainer Carlos A. Mancilla, and the 53 average speed figure is in line with the top contenders. A solid trifecta show option in what should be a closely run sprint.

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Bottom line: Laurel Park is serving up a well-rounded 9-race card under ideal late-June conditions, with Frye Island, Manseeyasway, and Rylnnslookinglucky as your free best bets to kick off the afternoon. The real headline acts — Spidey Man and Brat Pack, both maxing out the TrackWiz ratings — are front and center in the premium analysis. If you want the full picture before you bet, grab the complete card breakdown at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck at the windows.

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