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Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — October 23, 2026

October 23, 20269 racesAll Laurel Park picks

Happy Friday from Laurel Park, where a crisp, clear afternoon at 60°F sets the stage for a nine-race card that leans heavily on the turf. Five of today's nine races are contested on the grass, so if you've been tracking turf form and pace scenarios on those shorter turns, this is your kind of day.

The card spans claiming, maiden, allowance, and starter optional claiming conditions — a nice mix that gives both sharp handicappers and casual bettors plenty of angles to work with. Whether you're looking to grind the Pick 4 or just fire a couple of win bets, there's something here for every approach.

TrackWiz has full ratings on all nine races, and three of them are unlocked for every reader today — no subscription required. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A wide-open 14-horse turf sprint at 5½ furlongs with a wide range of TrackWiz ratings — the top-rated Go to Bingo (84.9) stands out clearly on paper, but longshot angles abound in a deep claiming field.

win8Go to BingoML 9/2

Go to Bingo (No. 8) carries the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 84.9 and drew the services of Paco Lopez — one of the sharpest turf riders in the mid-Atlantic. At 9/2 on the morning line, this horse isn't being handed to bettors for free, but the rating gap between Go to Bingo and the rest of the field is significant. The average speed figure of 56 ties for the top mark in the race, and the overall profile screams class in a field that has multiple horses rated in the 20s and 30s. Best bet of the opener.

place11Derz SmartML 3/1

Derz Smart (No. 11) is the morning line favorite at 3/1 and backs it up with a 75.58 rating — second-best in the field by a comfortable margin. Trainer Michael J. Trombetta is a consistent presence at Laurel, and Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call in what shapes up as a straightforward pace trip over the turf. The 8% career win rate is modest, but the overall quality indicators suggest a horse who hits the board more often than wins — making the place tab a natural fit.

show2AirbrushML 10/1

Airbrush (No. 2) is a sneaky-good show option at 10/1 on the morning line, sitting third in the field on TrackWiz ratings (69.38) with a career win rate of 20% — tied for the highest in the field. Forest Boyce gets the mount for trainer Lacey Gaudet, and the average speed figure of 56 matches the best in the field. At double-digit odds, this one has the profile to hit the board and deliver real value in exacta and trifecta tickets.

Race 2

4:32 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The Jamie Ness entry (Lookin At Mac and Geostoblame) figures to dominate the wagering as a coupled pair, but Good Man Dan looms as a live upset threat with the best standalone rating in the field at 6/1.

win6Good Man DanML 6/1

Good Man Dan (No. 6) is the play here, and the 6/1 morning line feels generous for a horse carrying an 82.71 TrackWiz rating — easily the highest in the field among non-entry horses. Jevian Toledo takes the mount for trainer Mark Beecher, and the 22% career win rate is the strongest of any individual horse in the race. Going 1 1/16 miles on dirt, Good Man Dan looks like a class standout who can stalk the Ness entry and pounce in the stretch. This is the kind of value spot TrackWiz analysis highlights.

place1AGeostoblameML 3/2

Geostoblame (No. 1A) is the stronger half of the Ness entry, posting a 62.58 rating and a 28% career win rate — the latter figure is the best in the entire field. Jaime Rodriguez handles both Ness horses, which means he'll be steering whichever one sets up better from the gate. The coupled entry creates wagering complications, but as a place finisher Geostoblame has the raw ability to be right there at the wire.

show1Lookin At MacML 3/2

Lookin At Mac (No. 1) rounds out the Ness entry and carries a 60.49 rating with an 18% career win rate. While Geostoblame edges him on the ratings, Lookin At Mac is no slouch, and having both halves of the entry in the exotics gives you solid coverage of a trainer who clearly ships horses to Laurel ready to run. Don't throw either Ness horse out of your trifectas.

Race 3

5:04 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A maiden special weight turf sprint where the morning line favorite Charlibu (8/5) draws a stiff challenge from Lux (4/1), whose TrackWiz rating is 14 points higher — setting up a potential upset over the chalk.

win5LuxML 4/1

Lux (No. 5) tops the field with a 73.78 TrackWiz rating despite going off at 4/1 on the morning line — a meaningful edge over the morning line favorite Charlibu. Carol Cedeno gets the mount for trainer Justin Rivera, and the average speed figure of 56 is tied for best in this maiden field. In a race where every runner is winless (career win rates are all 0%), the ratings edge becomes the clearest separator, and Lux has it by a comfortable margin. Maiden turf sprints can be chaotic, but the numbers here point in one direction.

place6Granite HallML 3/2

Granite Hall (No. 6) is the morning line favorite at 3/2 despite owning the second-best average speed figure in the field at 57 — actually the highest raw figure of anyone in the race. Trainer Michael R. Matz is a savvy conditioner with a long track record of placing horses in spots where they can succeed, and Mychel J. Sanchez rides. If Granite Hall can't beat Lux, the speed figure profile strongly suggests a place finish is well within reach.

show9CharlibuML 8/5

Charlibu (No. 9) is the public's choice at 8/5, and while our analysis prefers Lux, ignoring the morning line favorite in the show slot would be reckless. Sheldon Russell rides for trainer Brittany T. Russell — a husband-and-wife combo that knows this circuit well — and the 59.0 rating is third in the field. Charlibu belongs in any trifecta construction, especially if you're using Lux and Granite Hall on top.

Our three free best bets today cover the opening stretch of the card, and together they paint an interesting picture. Race 1 kicks things off on the turf at 5½ furlongs, where Go to Bingo (morning line 9/2, TrackWiz rating 84.9) projects well in a claiming field. Over in Race 2, Good Man Dan (6/1, 82.71) is a name worth circling in the Starter Optional Claiming route on the dirt — that 6/1 morning line looks like it could offer real value if the pace sets up in his favor. Race 3 brings us back to the turf for a Maiden Special Weight sprint, where Lux (4/1, 73.78) tops our ratings among a field of unproven runners.

A common thread across all three: none of these horses are the chalk, and all three were flagged by TrackWiz's model as outperforming their morning line. That's the kind of overlay hunting that keeps the bankroll healthy over a long season.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The morning line favorite Ice Shot (8/5) faces a legitimate threat from Edelweiss, whose TrackWiz rating is nearly 28 points higher — one of the most dramatic rating-vs-odds mismatches on today's card.

win5EdelweissML 4/1

Edelweiss (No. 5) is the standout on ratings at 85.62 — the clear top mark in this 1 1/16-mile dirt claiming field — while going off at 4/1 on the morning line. Jeiron Barbosa takes the mount for trainer Daniel J. McKenzie, and the pace scenario over a route of ground should favor a horse with this kind of overall quality profile. The 9% career win rate is the one caution flag, but in a claiming route on dirt, raw ability matters, and Edelweiss has more of it than anyone else in here.

place4Bad Boy ButchML 10/1

Bad Boy Butch (No. 4) is a legitimate value play at 10/1 on the morning line, carrying a 65.43 rating — third-best in the field — with Paco Lopez up for trainer Gregory D. Sacco. The 14% career win rate is respectable in a claiming field, and a horse with this kind of talent should be competitive at a distance of 1 1/16 miles where pace can set up perfectly for a mid-pack runner. At those morning line odds, Bad Boy Butch is an excellent inclusion in exactas and trifectas.

show2Red SpitfireML 9/2

Red Spitfire (No. 2) brings a 62.77 rating and a standout 25% career win rate — the best of any horse in the field — making the 9/2 morning line look soft for a horse who wins at that frequency. Carlos Eduardo Lopez rides for Phillip Capuano, and the average speed figure of 54 is competitive in this group. Whether Red Spitfire can beat Edelweiss is the question, but as a show horse with a strong win rate, this one is hard to leave off tickets.

Race 5

6:08 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/8 mi · Turf

A sprawling 16-horse maiden claiming turf route where Plenty On Tap (9/2) and Seawise (3/1) top the ratings charts, giving this otherwise chaotic field a clear two-horse core to build tickets around.

win4Plenty On TapML 9/2

Plenty On Tap (No. 4) tops the entire field with a TrackWiz rating of 84.9 — tied for the best single-race rating on today's full card — while going off at a reasonable 9/2. Jeiron Barbosa picks up the mount for trainer Tim Woolley, and in a 16-horse maiden claiming field on turf at 1 1/8 miles, class and overall form tend to cut through the noise. The average speed figure of 53 is competitive in this group, and the horse's profile stands head and shoulders above most of what it's facing. This is the marquee play in Race 5.

place6SeawiseML 3/1

Seawise (No. 6) slots in right behind Plenty On Tap on the ratings (75.01) and draws Jaime Rodriguez — a jockey who knows this circuit inside and out. Trainer Blake Kelly puts the horse in a spot to run, and the 3/1 morning line makes Seawise the public's second choice. At 1 1/8 miles on turf, a horse with a consistent speed average of 54 can sit off the pace and finish, which is exactly the profile you want against maiden claimers going long.

show11QuamashML 5/1

Quamash (No. 11) is third in the field on TrackWiz ratings at 74.84 and goes off at 5/1 on the morning line — a touch of value for a horse whose numbers suggest it belongs in the top tier of this group. Jose A. Batista gets the mount for trainer Victor Carrasco Jr., and the average speed of 54 is right in line with the top contenders. In a race this large, having a third horse with a strong rating profile is crucial for trifecta and superfecta construction.

Race 6

6:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning line favorite Tethered Soul (2/1) is a vulnerable chalk in this 6-furlong dirt claiming race — Who Says So carries a notably higher TrackWiz rating at 6/1, setting up a juicy upset scenario.

win9Who Says SoML 6/1

Who Says So (No. 9) is the pick here at 6/1, with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating that leads the field by a clear margin over the morning line choice Tethered Soul (68.54). Jeiron Barbosa gets the mount for trainer A. Ferris Allen III — a trainer-jockey combination that can be trusted in claiming sprints on dirt. The 5% career win rate looks low, but the overall rating suggests a horse whose form lines merit more respect than the win percentage alone implies. At 6/1, the upside is real.

place3Yes ChefML 4/1

Yes Chef (No. 3) posts a 75.0 TrackWiz rating and carries an average speed figure of 55 — among the top figures in this sprint field. Paco Lopez rides for trainer Richard P. Sillaman at a 4/1 morning line, meaning there's public money here as well. The 9% career win rate is modest, but the pace profile of a 6-furlong dirt sprint suits a horse with this speed figure, and Yes Chef should be right in the mix at the top of the stretch.

show2Golden SandML 5/1

Golden Sand (No. 2) is one of the more interesting show options on the card — a 5/1 morning line horse with a 70.67 rating and a 14% career win rate. Jaime Rodriguez rides for Jamie Ness, who is having a productive Laurel meet. The average speed figure of 51 is on the lower end here, which might explain the longer morning line, but the overall rating still puts Golden Sand in the top half of the field and makes it a sensible trifecta inclusion.

Race 7

7:13 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A tricky maiden claiming turf route where the highest-rated horse (Napisonmyagenda, 82.71) goes off at 6/1 while the second choice (Gallant Lad, 2/1) owns the second-best rating — making this a fascinating pricing puzzle for bettors.

win6NapisonmyagendaML 6/1

Napisonmyagenda (No. 6) leads all starters with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating while sitting at 6/1 on the morning line — that's a rare combination of elite numbers and overlay odds in a maiden race. Forest Boyce gets the mount for trainer Timothy L. Keefe, and the average speed figure of 54 is right at the top of this group. In a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden claimer, a horse with this rating running at this price is exactly the kind of spot our analysis is built to find. This is the value play of the afternoon.

place4Gallant LadML 2/1

Gallant Lad (No. 4) is the morning line second choice at 2/1 with an 80.44 TrackWiz rating — just 0.27 points behind our top pick. Vincent Cheminaud rides for trainer Michael R. Matz, giving this horse two serious credentials: a top-flight conditioner and a jockey capable of maximizing a turf mile. The 54 average speed figure matches Napisonmyagenda's, making this a near dead-heat on the numbers — split the difference by using both in exactas.

show1AgendumML 9/2

Agendum (No. 1) rounds out the TrackWiz top three with a 61.5 rating and draws Paco Lopez — the class of today's jockey colony — for trainer Michael Stidham. The 9/2 morning line is fair for a horse this deep in the ratings standings, and the 53 average speed figure is workmanlike in a maiden turf route. Agendum makes sense as a show leg and a trifecta key underneath the top two picks.

Race 8

7:45 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A competitive allowance optional claiming mile on dirt with two horses — My Hometown Gal and U Better Kiss Me — sitting close together near the top of the TrackWiz ratings, while the public's favorite may not be the sharpest horse in the field.

win2My Hometown GalML 3/1

My Hometown Gal (No. 2) leads this allowance field with an 83.38 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate — a combination that suggests a consistent, quality mare. Raul E. Mena rides for trainer Michael E. Gorham at a 3/1 morning line, which is fair without being generous. The average speed figure of 54 is solid for an allowance mile on dirt, and the career win percentage at one-in-four represents real reliability. This is a horse that earns her way, and the numbers back it up.

place8U Better Kiss MeML 6/1

U Better Kiss Me (No. 8) is one of the most eye-catching profiles on today's full card — a 66% career win rate (best by far in this field) paired with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating — all at 6/1 on the morning line. Jose A. Batista rides for trainer Nesvil Hernan Bailon, and while small sample sizes can inflate career percentages, a horse winning at that rate in allowance company deserves respect. At 6/1, this one might be the best value on the board in Race 8.

show9Hidden RhythmML 5/2

Hidden Rhythm (No. 9) is the 5/2 morning line choice and carries a 57.5 TrackWiz rating with a stellar 50% career win rate — another horse in this field with an impressive win percentage. Sheldon Russell gets the mount for trainer Brittany T. Russell, making this another Russell family entry to watch. The rating trails our top two picks, but at 5/2, the public clearly believes in Hidden Rhythm, and a horse winning half its starts belongs in every show ticket.

Race 9

8:17 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

The nightcap is a 15-horse turf mile claiming race headlined by Dream Overture — the highest-rated horse on today's entire card at 88.54 — who looks like a standout despite a full field that includes several live threats.

win10Dream OvertureML 2/1

Dream Overture (No. 10) is simply the best horse on the Laurel card today by the TrackWiz model, carrying an 88.54 rating that leads not just this race but every race on the program. Forest Boyce picks up the mount for trainer W. Robert Bailes, and the 25% career win rate confirms this isn't just a highly rated horse — it's one that converts when the conditions are right. Going a mile on turf in a claiming field, Dream Overture should have enough class to dominate, and the 2/1 morning line reflects the public's awareness. This is the card's top play.

place14EachpeachpearplumML 5/2

Eachpeachpearplum (No. 14) is second in the field on TrackWiz ratings at 82.26 and draws Angel Cruz for trainer Anthony Pecoraro at 5/2 on the morning line. The 15% career win rate is solid in a turf claiming field this competitive, and the 53 average speed figure keeps pace with the top horses in the race. This is the kind of horse that finishes second a lot, which makes the place tab a very natural fit — especially behind a dominant top pick like Dream Overture.

show12WhyML 6/1

Why (No. 12) is an intriguing show option at 6/1 morning line, with a 76.6 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — and a 30% career win rate that is among the best of any horse on today's card. Emanuel Rosario rides for trainer Daniel J. McKenzie, and the average speed figure of 54 is right in line with the top tier. At 6/1, Why offers genuine show value and is the kind of horse that can sneak into exotic payouts at prices that make it worthwhile.

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Clear skies, firm turf, and a card loaded with value — today at Laurel Park has the makings of a profitable Friday. Go to Bingo, Good Man Dan, and Lux are your free best bets to start. For the full nine-race breakdown, pace maps, and exotic ticket recommendations, unlock premium access at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck at the windows.

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