Unlock the other 6 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — October 2, 2026

October 2, 20269 racesAll Laurel Park picks

It's a Friday afternoon at Laurel Park, and the 9-race card has plenty to dig into. Cloudy skies and a comfortable 79°F keep conditions benign — no heat stress on the horses, and no rain messing with the surfaces. That's good news for a card that leans heavily on turf, with five of nine races run on the grass.

The mix of claiming races, starter optionals, and maiden events gives both casual bettors and serious players something to work with. Don't let the claiming-heavy card fool you — these fields are competitive, and a few of our TrackWiz ratings are clustered tight enough to make exacta hunting genuinely worthwhile today.

Three races are open to everyone, with full free analysis below. Races 4 through 9 are part of the premium card — and trust us, there's some real meat on those bones.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A wide-open turf mile-and-sixteenth with legitimate pace questions and three horses rated 62 or better — this one could come down to a late kick on the front end or from off the pace.

win8ZevonML 5/1

Zevon sits atop our TrackWiz ratings at 68.67 despite carrying a modest 9% career win rate, suggesting this horse has run some big races without converting them to wins — that could change today with Horacio Karamanos navigating the turf. The 5/1 morning line represents real value if the rating holds up; at a mile and a sixteenth on grass, horses with raw ability often find the extra distance to their liking. Trainer Danielle Hodsdon has this horse positioned in a spot-class spot, and the numbers say this is the right time to expect a forward move.

place3Walking in MemphisML 6/1

Walking in Memphis brings the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 67.22 and the best average speed figure of the contenders at 56, which on a turf route can be the difference-maker in the stretch. Jockey J.D. Acosta gets the call for trainer Michael E. Jones, Jr., and at 6/1 on the morning line there's solid overlay potential here for exacta and place purposes. The 13% career win rate is modest, but this horse's raw speed numbers make it dangerous at the distance.

show7Good Man DanML 20/1

Good Man Dan is our TrackWiz longshot flag in the show slot at 20/1 morning line, but don't let that price scare you off — a 62.29 rating and a 25% career win rate are genuinely strong credentials in this field. Trainer Mark Beecher is sending this horse out with Jeiron Barbosa up, and a closer who can rate off a turf pace has a real shot to land in the money. At those odds in exotics, Good Man Dan is a sneaky wheel candidate in trifectas.

Race 2

4:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Backnthewoods looks like a class standout in this 5½-furlong dirt claimer, but the pace scenario off the front could set up for a closer — watch how The Count Is On handles the early going.

win5BacknthewoodsML 5/2

Backnthewoods is the clear TrackWiz top-rated horse in this race at an eye-popping 87.81, a number that dwarfs the rest of the field by a substantial margin. Running for trainer Jose Corrales with Jorge F. Hernandez in the irons, this horse has already demonstrated the kind of ceiling that makes 5/2 morning line feel like fair money at worst. A 13% career win rate is the one blemish, but when the rating gap is this wide in a claiming sprint, our analysis says trust the number and look for a big effort.

place4The Count Is OnML EVN

The Count Is On opens at even money for a reason — a 52.38 TrackWiz rating isn't flashy, but a 20% career win rate and the best average speed figure in the field at 56 make this one a consistent performer worth respecting. Trainer Damon R. Dilodovico sends this one out with Jeiron Barbosa, a jockey who knows how to work a pace scenario in sprint dirt events. If Backnthewoods gets challenged early, The Count Is On could be sitting in a perfect stalking position.

show6HeldishML 5/1

Heldish checks in at 46.54 on our ratings with a 9% career win rate, but Tais Lyapustina is a capable handler and Robin L. Graham knows how to place a horse in the right spot at this level. The 5/1 morning line makes Heldish an attractive show play and a logical underneath option in exactas if the pace heats up and a closing type sneaks through. In a short field of six, hitting the board becomes a very real proposition for a horse with this profile.

Race 3

5:04 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

Maiden turf sprints are always tricky, but this one has a clear top tier of form — three horses rated 76 or better separate themselves significantly from the rest of the field, making the top of the exotic tickets relatively manageable.

win8Fortune HillML 3/1

Fortune Hill earns the TrackWiz win call here with an 87.08 rating — the top mark in the field — and a solid 56 average speed figure to match. Trainer Irvin G. Flores has Jose E. Vargas in the irons, and at 3/1 on the morning line, this is a horse the morning line makers respect even in maiden company. Maidens with this kind of underlying rating tend to convert when the conditions finally click, and a 5½-furlong turf sprint looks tailor-made.

place4DannerML 2/1

Danner comes in as the morning line favorite at 2/1 with an 81.27 TrackWiz rating and a 56 average speed figure, making this one a genuine contender for the top spot even if our model slots Fortune Hill ahead. Forest Boyce is a reliable hand for trainer W. Robert Bailes, and Danner's profile screams breakout effort — the speed is there, the distance works, and the surface suits. Don't be surprised if the tote board flips these two at post time.

show2Honorary AmericanML 8/1

Honorary American is worth highlighting at 8/1 morning line with a 76.61 TrackWiz rating — the third-highest in the field. Trainer Michael E. Jones, Jr. is having a productive run at this meet, and Denis Vicente Araujo gives this horse a competent ride at a price worth taking. In a race where the top three rated horses are clustered on form, Honorary American is the logical trifecta anchor at a price.

Our three free races kick things off nicely. In Race 1, Zevon (5/1 morning line) gets our nod in a Starter Optional Claiming route on the turf — a price worth playing if he fires his best. Race 2 shifts to the dirt for a 5½-furlong sprint, where Backnthewoods draws our highest TrackWiz rating among the free picks at 87.81 and figures to be tough to catch at 5/2. Then it's back to the turf in Race 3, a Maiden Claiming sprint where Fortune Hill (3/1) earns a strong 87.08 rating and looks well-placed to break her maiden.

The through-line across these early races: turf form matters today with that mild, stable weather keeping the grass consistent, and speed figures in the mid-to-upper 80s on our scale tend to perform well in this claiming tier at Laurel. Use Backnthewoods as your anchor in any early multi-race wagers — that 87.81 rating is the strongest number in the free portion of the card.

Send me tomorrow's free Laurel Park card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:38 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Military Grade carries a massive rating advantage in this six-furlong dirt claimer, but Couches Burning and Flying to Work give the race enough depth to make the exotics interesting — a pace setup worth watching closely.

win6Military GradeML 7/2

Military Grade is the standout of Race 4 with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate — both figures that lead the field by a clear margin. Jevian Toledo is a sharp tactical rider who excels in six-furlong dirt sprints, and trainer Anthony Farrior has this horse at a 7/2 morning line that may look like value by post time. When a horse combines a top rating, a winning record, and a seasoned jockey, the analysis writes itself — this is our best bet of the race.

place4Couches BurningML 5/2

Couches Burning brings a 71.02 rating and the best career win percentage among the mid-tier horses at 16%, making this one a legitimate threat to run second or better. Mychel J. Sanchez takes the mount for Kelly J. Breen, a trainer who sends horses out sharp, and the 5/2 morning line suggests the market agrees this one will be competitive. As a place horse behind Military Grade, Couches Burning looks like a solid exacta bottom.

show8Flying to WorkML 8/1

Flying to Work catches the eye at 8/1 with a 63.00 TrackWiz rating and a 56 average speed figure — the highest in the field. Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon has Jaime Rodriguez up, and a horse with that kind of raw speed in a sprint often finds a way to earn a check. At 8/1, Flying to Work is a genuine overlay in the show position and a nice trifecta inclusion.

Race 5

6:09 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A full turf sprint field with three horses rated 81 or above — Baltic is the clear public choice, but Airbrush and Hoppetosse give bettors real reason to look for value underneath in what could be a fast, contested pace.

win11BalticML 6/5

Baltic earns the top TrackWiz rating in Race 5 at 89.71 and shares the best average speed figure in the field at 57, making this the clear top choice in a wide-open turf sprint. Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call for Cathal A. Lynch, a trainer who knows how to spot a horse to win, and the 6/5 morning line reflects a deep market respect for this runner. The 11% career win rate is the only question mark, but the underlying numbers are simply too strong to fade.

place9AirbrushML 3/1

Airbrush is our place pick and arguably the best value bet on the ticket — a 25% career win rate is the highest in this entire field, and trainer Lacey Gaudet has Forest Boyce on board, a jockey who gets results on the turf. The 82.32 TrackWiz rating slots this one right behind Baltic at the top of the field, and at 3/1, Airbrush looks like a legitimate win contender in its own right, not just a place horse. Gear up for a pace duel up front, because Airbrush has the closing profile to benefit.

show7HoppetosseML 5/1

Hoppetosse is the show selection with an 81.57 rating, a 16% career win rate, and a 56 average speed figure that fits this sprint distance well. Trainer John J. Robb sends Xavier Perez out at 5/1, and when three horses are rated this closely at the top of a full turf field, Hoppetosse has the numbers to land on the board. It's a key trifecta piece and worth a small win ticket if you want to play against the short-priced Baltic.

Race 6

6:41 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden dirt sprint that leans heavily on projections — several horses are first-time starters or short on PPs — but Ayni stands out as a class-apart favorite while two honest underliers give the exotics some structure.

win3AyniML 6/5

Ayni opens at 6/5 on the morning line with the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 59.67 and a 56 average speed figure that no other contender can match. Trainer Michael J. Trombetta is one of the sharper conditioners in the mid-Atlantic, and Mychel J. Sanchez is a winning jockey who handles maiden company with confidence. In a race where several competitors have zero speed history in the data, Ayni's combination of rating, speed, and connections makes this a confident top selection.

place8Old Man's DreamML 7/2

Old Man's Dream is our place pick at 7/2 morning line with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating — the second-best mark in the field — and a 54 average speed figure to support it. Trainer Anthony Farrior goes with Jeiron Barbosa, a reliable rider who can keep a maiden competitive off the pace in sprint company. If Ayni gets beat or gets into trouble, Old Man's Dream is the most likely horse to be there at the wire.

show4Russian IrisML 5/1

Russian Iris slots in as the show pick at 5/1 with a 53.33 TrackWiz rating, giving trainer W. Robert Bailes a live runner from the four hole. Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets the mount, and in a maiden field where half the horses have limited speed data, Russian Iris's profile gives us enough to justify a board spot. It's the right price for a show bet and a logical underneath horse in the exacta.

Race 7

7:14 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A massive fourteen-horse turf sprint field in the Starter Optional Claiming ranks — Noble Jon stands apart on raw ratings, but double-digit fields at 5½ furlongs on the grass are notoriously chaotic, so pace and position at the break matter enormously.

win12Noble JonML 3/1

Noble Jon is the TrackWiz top selection by a wide margin, carrying an 87.08 rating along with the field's best average speed figure at 58 and a 34% career win rate that is simply elite at this level. Trainer Monica McGoey sends Horacio Karamanos out on a horse that has clearly been pointed at this spot, and at 3/1, there's real value for a horse this dominant in the numbers. In a field this large, a horse with a 34% win rate doesn't need a perfect trip — it just needs a fair one.

place5ElonML 9/2

Elon is an interesting value proposition at 9/2 with a 66.01 TrackWiz rating and a 57 average speed figure — tied for the top mark in the field on that metric. Trainer Fenneka T. Bentley uses Ricardo Chiappe, and with a 13% career win rate Elon has shown the ability to hit the board in competitive spots. In a big field, the 9/2 price makes Elon attractive as a place bet and a strong exacta partner underneath Noble Jon.

show1Slippin JimmyML 4/1

Slippin Jimmy rounds out our picks at 4/1 with a 65.62 TrackWiz rating and a 22% career win rate — one of the better winning percentages in this race. Drawing the rail in a large turf field can be a mixed bag at Laurel, but trainer Sarah White and Leandro M. Briceno have experience navigating that spot, and the 56 average speed figure holds up at this distance. At a competitive price, Slippin Jimmy is worth a show ticket and trifecta inclusion.

Race 8

7:46 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A small but intriguing six-furlong dirt field where the morning line favorite and the TrackWiz top-rated horse are not the same runner — Disney Belle's 84.90 rating versus Law School's 7/5 morning line sets up a fascinating market storyline.

win1Disney BelleML 9/2

Disney Belle is our TrackWiz top pick in Race 8 with an 84.90 rating — the highest in the field — plus a 16% career win rate and a 56 average speed figure that fits a six-furlong dirt sprint perfectly. Trainer Kenneth M. Cox sends Jeiron Barbosa out at 9/2, which means the market hasn't fully caught up to what the numbers are saying, and that's where overlay value lives. When our model sees this kind of gap between the top-rated horse and the morning line favorite, it's a signal to take the number seriously.

place5Last GiftML 6/1

Last Gift is the place pick at 6/1 with a 54.74 TrackWiz rating and a remarkable 41% career win rate — the highest win percentage in the entire field by a substantial margin. Trainer Jose Corrales has Leandro M. Briceno up, and a horse that wins at that clip doesn't end up on your ticket accidentally — it ends up there because it knows how to compete. The 6/1 price seems generous for a horse with a winning record that strong, and it makes Last Gift a key exacta and place bet.

show4Law SchoolML 7/5

Law School is the public's choice at 7/5 morning line with a 20% career win rate for trainer Jamie Ness, who goes with Jaime Rodriguez in the irons. The 48.07 TrackWiz rating trails Disney Belle significantly, which is why we've got Law School in the show slot rather than on top — but at 7/5, this horse will likely be a heavy factor and could easily beat the field if the form holds. Consider it the chalk anchor in trifectas while leaning on Disney Belle at value.

Race 9

8:18 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

Occupy opens at 3/5 and figures to be a heavily-bet favorite in this maiden turf sprint — the question isn't whether Occupy is the best horse, it's whether there's enough value beneath to build a worthwhile exotic ticket.

win2OccupyML 3/5

Occupy is the TrackWiz top selection with a 60.00 rating and the best average speed figure in the field at 56, making this one a clear standout in what is otherwise a modestly talented maiden field. Trainer Brittany T. Russell sends out Sheldon Russell, a jockey-trainer combination that clearly communicates confidence and shared preparation. At 3/5, the win price won't excite anyone, but Occupy's rating advantage and speed edge make this a horse you build your exotics around, not against.

place4Kelly's HardheadedML 9/2

Kelly's Hardheaded offers real value at 9/2 with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating — the second-best in the field — and a 53 average speed figure that is competitive at this distance. Trainer Kathleen O'Connell goes with Jaime Rodriguez, a proven rider at Laurel who can steer a maiden to the right position early. In a race dominated by an odds-on favorite, Kelly's Hardheaded is the logical horse to anchor your place and exacta wagers beneath Occupy.

show1Victoria's SongML 6/1

Victoria's Song rounds out our picks at 6/1 with a 51.67 TrackWiz rating and a 54 average speed figure for trainer Kelly J. Breen. Mychel J. Sanchez is a consistent performer in the irons, and in a maiden turf sprint, the ability to find a comfortable position early is critical — a jockey of Sanchez's caliber gives Victoria's Song a real edge in trip quality. At 6/1, this is an attractive show ticket and a trifecta piece worth including.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Today's Laurel card is a turf-tilted, value-friendly slate with Backnthewoods (Race 2) and Baltic (Race 5) standing out as our marquee plays. Zevon and Fortune Hill round out the free card with legitimate chances at fair prices. For pace breakdowns, exotic ticket strategies, and the full premium analysis on Races 4–9, TrackWiz subscribers have everything they need. Good luck at the windows.

← All Laurel Park picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 9 races free