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Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — September 12, 2026

September 12, 20269 racesAll Laurel Park picks

Laurel Park saddles up for a full 9-race card on Saturday, September 12, and the conditions are about as cooperative as you could ask for heading into the weekend. Cloudy skies and a comfortable 79°F keep the turf lively and the dirt honest — no weather excuses for anyone today.

Today's card is genuinely diverse. You've got a pair of turf stakes races (Races 6 and 8) to anchor the middle portion of the afternoon, maiden claiming sprints on both surfaces for the unearthed-gem hunters, and a sprawling 1 1/16-mile dirt route in Race 5 that sets up as a pace puzzle worth unpacking. Nine races, plenty of angles.

TrackWiz has full ratings on every runner in the field. Three races are open to everyone — Races 1, 2, and 3 — and our premium subscribers get the complete breakdown on all nine, including exotics coverage and multi-race sequence strategy.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A wide-open turf claimer with a surprising rating gap at the top — the morning-line favorite isn't the TrackWiz top-rated horse, setting up a potential overlay situation at 9/2.

win7Keen TalentML 9/2

Keen Talent leads our TrackWiz ratings field with an 84.9 score — a full 22 points clear of the second choice — and that gap is hard to dismiss in a field this deep. Trainer Anthony Farrior sends him out with jockey Jeiron Barbosa, a familiar combo to watch at Laurel. At 9/2 on the morning line, this is a juicy price for a horse who grades out as the class of the field. A career win rate of 8% sounds modest, but when the underlying ratings support this kind of separation, the price makes the risk worthwhile.

place8Grey BiggsyML 9/5

Grey Biggsy is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 and carries a 62.84 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field. Trainer Cathal A. Lynch has this horse pointed for turf, and jockey Vincent Cheminaud is an experienced grass pilot. Even if Keen Talent runs them down, Grey Biggsy's consistency at this level makes him a strong safety net in exactas and place wagers.

show5Bad Boy BlazeML 10/1

Bad Boy Blaze is the sneaky inclusion here at 10/1 on the morning line. His TrackWiz rating of 59.03 actually edges out several better-priced rivals, and trainer Alberto Delgado has him set up for this turf route. Career win percentage is low at 5%, but his average speed figure is competitive with the field — he's a live show ticket in a race where the top two prices may compress the pool.

Race 2

4:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The Piranha is a fascinating odds-on overlay hidden behind an eye-catching morning line — a horse with zero career wins but the top TrackWiz rating in the field by a significant margin.

win4The PiranhaML 12/1

The Piranha opens at 12/1 on the morning line, but our TrackWiz analysis gives him a field-best 73.96 rating — more than 10 points clear of Pediatrician. Trainer Mark Ippolito throws jockey Vladimir Diaz in the irons for a six-furlong dirt sprint, and while a winless career record is a flag, the underlying figures here scream improvement at the right moment. In a class like this, a horse who grades out well above the morning line is exactly the kind of value play that pays.

place6PediatricianML 3/1

Pediatrician is the second-best rated horse in here at 63.66 and comes in at a reasonable 3/1 morning line. A career win rate of 11% at this level is respectable, and trainer Marco P. Salazar has her ready. She pairs naturally with The Piranha in exacta coverage — if the top pick fires, she's your most likely exacta partner based on the ratings alone.

show3Yes ChefML EVN

Yes Chef is the morning-line favorite at even money and posts the top average speed figure in the field at 57 — a full three ticks faster than most rivals. Trainer Richard P. Sillaman has a horse who clearly runs fast; the question is whether class or pace scenario conspires against him today. At even money he's thin for show purposes, but his speed edge makes him a difficult horse to leave off tickets entirely.

Race 3

5:03 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint on the dirt where no horse has ever won — this is a blank-slate race decided heavily by TrackWiz ratings and trainer patterns rather than past results.

win3Old Man's DreamML 6/5

Old Man's Dream carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 59.67 and opens as the heavy 6/5 morning-line favorite. Trainer Anthony Farrior — who also has the Race 1 top pick — clearly sends horses out ready to run, and jockey Jeiron Barbosa stays in the irons. In a maiden field where no one has broken their maiden, the horse with the most confident handicapping profile is the place to start.

place7Russian IrisML 3/1

Russian Iris draws in at 3/1 with a 56.67 TrackWiz rating — close enough to Old Man's Dream that a race scenario shift could easily flip the order of finish. Trainer W. Robert Bailes and jockey Carlos Eduardo Lopez form a workmanlike combo for this level. Russian Iris is the natural backup to the favorite and brings value as the place horse in exacta constructions.

show6Poor JacquiML 5/1

Poor Jacqui catches the eye at 5/1 morning line with a 53.33 TrackWiz rating that slots her neatly in the middle of the pack. Trainer Henry Walters and jockey Jaime Rodriguez keep her competitive in a race where chaos is always possible when no horse has ever won. She's a sensible show play and exotic include for bettors looking to spread in this unpredictable spot.

The free portion of today's card kicks off right out of the gate and gives you a real taste of the day ahead. Keen Talent tops our board in the turf opener at 9/2 morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 84.9 — that's a number that tends to hold up on a healthy turf course, and today's firm-friendly conditions suit exactly this type of runner. In Race 2, we're flagging The Piranha as our top pick at a juicy 12/1 morning line — a legitimate value play at six furlongs on the dirt that our model rates more competitively than the crowd appears to. And in Race 3, Old Man's Dream comes in as the 6/5 favorite in a five-furlong maiden claimer — short price, but the 59.67 rating reflects a field where the competition is thin enough to justify it.

One thread connecting the free picks: pace. All three races have pace scenarios that our model projects as front-loaded, meaning closers could be fighting the bias if the dirt is playing fast early. Keep that in mind when you're handicapping the runners behind our top selections.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:32 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A maiden turf sprint with two horses nearly tied at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — Fortune Hill and Danner are separated by less than half a point, making this a fascinating win-pick puzzle.

win6Fortune HillML 5/2

Fortune Hill earns the win nod by the narrowest of margins — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating versus Danner's 87.37 — but the 5/2 morning line offers better value than Danner's 7/5. Trainer Irvin G. Flores sends out Jose E. Vargas, and Fortune Hill's average speed of 56 matches the upper tier of the field. In a maiden race where pedigree and preparation often trump past performance, a top rating at a fair price is the right angle.

place4DannerML 7/5

Danner is as close to a co-top pick as it gets — 87.37 TrackWiz rating and the 7/5 morning-line favorite. Trainer W. Robert Bailes and jockey Carlos Eduardo Lopez are a confident combination on the Laurel turf. If Fortune Hill hits the board first, Danner is almost surely nearby — they're essentially a pair in terms of analytical strength.

show8Rare EclipseML 5/1

Rare Eclipse is the third-rated horse in this field at 58.19 and opens at 5/1 — a legitimate price for a horse who grades out ahead of six rivals. Trainer Keri Brion has a strong reputation developing turf horses, and jockey Jorge Ruiz handles the grass assignment. With an average speed figure of 55, she has the raw ability to fill out exacta and trifecta combinations behind the top two.

Race 5

6:12 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A starter optional claimer at a mile and a sixteenth where the Jamie Ness entry (1 and 1A) creates an unusual coupled scenario — but Master Schemer lurks as the TrackWiz top-rated horse at a price worth attacking.

win2Master SchemerML 6/1

Master Schemer tops the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 despite opening at 6/1 on the morning line — a meaningful overlay when you consider the Ness entry is capped at 8/5. Trainer Daniel J. McKenzie sends him out with Horacio Karamanos, and a 23% career win rate is the best individual mark in the field. His average speed of 54 is tied for the best among non-entry horses, and at a route distance he figures to have the stamina to run them down late.

place1Beale Street BoyML 8/5

Beale Street Boy, half of the coupled Ness entry, is the place pick with an 80.88 TrackWiz rating and a career win rate of 16%. Jockey Jaime Rodriguez handles both horses in the entry, and Beale Street Boy's figures suggest he's the stronger of the pair — he outrates stablemate Lookin At Mac by more than eight points. If Master Schemer wins, the Ness entry could easily fill the place hole.

show5Fiddling FelixML 3/2

Fiddling Felix opens as the 3/2 second choice and carries a 76.38 TrackWiz rating with a 17% career win rate. Trainer Brandon L. Kulp has him ready at a distance his average speed figures support. He's thin value as a win play at short odds, but as a show component in trifectas he's a logical include — he's going to be near the front at some point in this race.

Race 6

6:40 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Turf

A 15-horse turf stakes with a clear TrackWiz standout — Cougar Cocktail's 66% career win rate is eye-popping in a field this large, and the 7/2 morning line makes her a legitimately exciting value proposition.

win14Cougar CocktailML 7/2

Cougar Cocktail is the most statistically dominant horse on today's entire card — a 66% career win rate is remarkable at any level, and she pairs it with a field-best 86.35 TrackWiz rating. Trainer Brittany T. Russell has her wired up with jockey Sheldon Russell for a six-furlong turf sprint where her speed figure of 57 is among the top marks in the field. At 7/2 in a stakes field this deep, she represents the best of both worlds: form and price.

place10MopoML 3/1

Mopo opens at 3/1 with a 77.08 TrackWiz rating and a 28% career win rate — both strong marks in a 15-horse stakes field. Trainer Phillip Capuano, who also saddles Wisconsin Gal, sends Forest Boyce to the irons. At six furlongs on turf, Mopo's pace profile makes her a natural to be competitive deep into the lane, and she's the most natural backup to Cougar Cocktail.

show1SomniumML 9/2

Somnium is the third piece of the puzzle at 9/2 with a 73.08 TrackWiz rating and a 30% career win rate — tied for the best win percentage among any horse in the show discussion. Trainer Elizabeth M. Merryman and jockey Jevian Toledo know Laurel's turf course well. Somnium's average speed of 58 is among the highest in the field, and she's a strong trifecta anchor if the top two run first and second.

Race 7

7:11 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Rerun Table is a 2/5 morning-line sledgehammer — this is one of those lopsided allowance spots where the question isn't if, but by how much, and where the real betting interest lies underneath.

win6Rerun TableML 2/5

Rerun Table is the top-rated horse on today's card at 90.0 — a perfect score that reflects dominant form at this level. A 50% career win rate paired with the 2/5 morning line tells you the connections expect this to be routine. Jockey Joseph Rocco Jr. and trainer John E. Salzman Jr. are a sharp combination, and at six furlongs on dirt, Rerun Table's average speed of 55 matches the top of the field. This is a horse you play to win and move on.

place1Blo by the FieldML 6/1

Blo by the Field is the most interesting underneath horse at 6/1, carrying a 78.62 TrackWiz rating and a 28% career win rate. Trainer Mark V. Salvaggio sends Jomar Torres out on a horse who has legitimate back figures — if Rerun Table runs into any trouble at all, this is the horse most likely to pick up the pieces. He's your top exacta partner at a generous price.

show4Hey AlexaML 12/1

Hey Alexa opens at 12/1 but rates third in the field at 54.67 — which in most other races would make her a mid-tier contender. Trainer Anthony Aguirre Jr. and jockey Jean Gregor Briceno have a horse who wins at a 27% career clip and has enough pure ability to land in the money in a short field. At 12/1 she's a classic value show play and trifecta includer.

Race 8

7:42 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Turf

A deep turf stakes where Creed's Vision is the TrackWiz top pick despite going off at 6/1 — with multiple horses in the 60s and 70s, there's real top-to-bottom quality here and legitimate exacta chaos potential.

win8Creed's VisionML 6/1

Creed's Vision leads the field with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating but opens at 6/1 — a meaningful price discrepancy that creates strong overlay value. Trainer Arnaud Delacour is one of the sharper grass conditioners in the mid-Atlantic, and jockey Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call. A 23% career win rate in stakes company speaks to consistency, and his average speed of 57 puts him right in the thick of the pace scenario. This is our top value play of the back half of the card.

place9Victory AchievedML 5/2

Victory Achieved opens at 5/2 with a 76.34 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate — the highest win percentage of any horse with a TrackWiz rating above 70. Trainer Mark E. Casse is elite at placing horses in the right spots, and Sonny Leon handles the mount. If Creed's Vision takes the top spot, Victory Achieved has the form and consistency to be right there for the place.

show2WittyML 4/1

Witty brings a 69.85 TrackWiz rating and a 35% career win rate — which would make him a top contender in most fields at this level. Trainer Elizabeth M. Merryman (also handling Somnium in Race 6) and jockey Jaime Rodriguez are a steady combination on the turf. At 4/1, Witty offers legitimate show value and exotics inclusion as the third piece of a competitive trifecta.

Race 9

8:14 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A maiden claiming route where Call Me a Taxi is the TrackWiz top pick at 5/1 despite the crowd likely hammering Napisonmyagenda as the 6/5 morning-line favorite — a classic form-vs-odds overlay to close out the card.

win3Call Me a TaxiML 5/1

Call Me a Taxi tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.17 despite opening at 5/1 — nearly four points above the morning-line favorite, Napisonmyagenda. Trainer Phillip Capuano, who also runs a horse in the Race 6 stakes, is a skilled conditioner who knows how to develop route maidens. Jockey Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets the call and an average speed figure of 52 is acceptable for this maiden class. The price gap over the favorite makes this a compelling win play.

place2NapisonmyagendaML 6/5

Napisonmyagenda is the public's choice at 6/5 with an 81.4 TrackWiz rating — just behind Call Me a Taxi but still well clear of the field. Trainer Timothy L. Keefe, who also saddles horses in Races 3 and 5 today, is active on the card and appears to have this horse pointed correctly. Forest Boyce rides, and with an average speed of 55 — best in the field — Napisonmyagenda absolutely cannot be left off the ticket.

show6President CamachoML 9/5

President Camacho is the second choice on the morning line at 9/5 with a 61.0 TrackWiz rating, but the figure suggests he's somewhat overpriced by the market relative to his form. Trainer Horacio De Paz and jockey Vincent Cheminaud combine on a horse whose speed average of 51 is actually the lowest of any horse in the top three. He's a legitimate show play given his market support, but value bettors may prefer to use Pea Ridge or Call Me a Taxi underneath instead.

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Bottom line: Laurel delivers a well-rounded Saturday card with value scattered top to bottom. Keen Talent, The Piranha, and Old Man's Dream are your free best bets to get started — and Rerun Table in Race 7 is the kind of high-confidence single that anchors a Pick 4 ticket. Full card analysis, pace maps, and exotic breakdowns are all available to TrackWiz subscribers. Good luck out there — let's make it a profitable afternoon.

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