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Laurel Park Picks & Predictions — October 25, 2026

October 25, 202610 racesAll Laurel Park picks

Best bets at Laurel Park, October 25, 2026

Race 12DannerML 7/212:00 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 8 races are for members.

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Last 30 days at Laurel Park: our top pick won 15 of 58 races (26%) and finished in the money in 42.

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It's a beautiful Sunday at Laurel Park — clear skies, temperatures sitting right around 60°F, and the turf courses looking every bit as inviting as you'd hope heading into late October. Perfect conditions for a 10-race card that gives you plenty of action from the first post all the way through the nightcap.

The card leans heavily on turf, with five races scheduled on the grass and a trio of maiden claiming events mixed in across both surfaces. That turf-heavy slate means pace scenarios get interesting in a hurry — turf routes especially tend to set up with late-running closers getting their shot when the pace heats up. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets today.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all 10 races, with three races available free to every reader and the complete premium breakdown covering the final seven races for subscribers. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden field on the turf with 16 runners and zero career wins to sort through — TrackWiz ratings separate a clear top tier from the rest of the chaos.

win2DannerML 7/2

Danner (#2) sits atop our TrackWiz ratings with an 86.35, the highest mark in this field by a comfortable margin, and posts the best average speed figure at 56. Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets the mount for conditioner W. Robert Bailes, and this is a horse that looks built for a maiden turf sprint at 5.5 furlongs. At 7/2 on the morning line, you're not getting a huge overlay, but the rating advantage is real and hard to ignore.

place6Fortune HillML 5/1

Fortune Hill (#6) comes in with a TrackWiz rating of 76.59 — second-best in the race — and Joseph Rocco Jr. is a sharp pickup in the irons for trainer Irvin G. Flores. At 5/1, there's legitimate place value here, and an average speed figure of 55 keeps Fortune Hill squarely in the pace picture on a turf sprint where early position matters.

show4Short BurnML 3/1

Short Burn (#4) checks in with a solid 56.67 rating and an average speed of 55 under the care of Michael J. Trombetta, one of the more reliable conditioners on the Mid-Atlantic circuit. Jevian Toledo — a go-to jockey for Trombetta — takes the reins at 3/1 morning line. This is a logical exotics anchor who could easily hit the board in a messy 16-horse maiden field.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 16 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

12:29 PM EDT

Rating Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning-line favorite comes in with a dominant rating edge, but a couple of legitimate speed horses could push the pace and set things up interestingly at six furlongs on dirt.

win2Re MarkablyML 2/1

Re Markably (#2) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 88.54 and backs it up with a career win rate of 29% — that's a legitimately strong number for a dirt claimer. Trainer Anthony Farrior sends out Jeiron Barbosa, a sharp rider who knows this horse, and the 2/1 morning line reflects confidence from the oddsmakers. The 55 average speed figure should be competitive enough to put this one right in the mix throughout.

place5WoodlineML 7/2

Woodline (#5) rates out at 63.61 with a career win rate of 17% and an average speed of 55, matching Re Markably's figure but at considerably better odds of 7/2. Trainer Kieron Magee puts Angel Cruz on top, and this looks like a horse who could track the pace and hit the board at a fair price in a six-furlong dash.

show3Radical RightML 6/1

Radical Right (#3) brings a 59 TrackWiz rating and posts at 6/1 with Raul E. Mena aboard for trainer Michael E. Gorham. The career win rate of 11% is modest, but in a seven-horse field where the top choice is the heavy favorite, the show position offers real value. Keep Radical Right in your exotics at a price.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

The free card today opens on the turf and stays compelling through the first three races. Danner (Race 1, morning line 7/2) headlines the opener — a maiden claimer on the turf sprint at 5½ furlongs where our ratings peg this one as the class of a soft field. Race 2 shifts to the dirt with Re Markably posting the highest TrackWiz rating of the free trio at 88.54, drawing a favorable post in a 6-furlong Rating Optional Claiming spot where pace figures to be contested early. Then Race 3 takes us back to the turf for a one-mile Starter Optional Claiming route, and Duchessa at 4/1 morning line looks like a price worth grabbing in what shapes up as a pace-honest setup — turf routers at a mile here can wire the field when they get soft early, and our projections suggest that's a real possibility.

The through-line on the free picks today: turf form translates, and horses that can control their own destiny in the early pace are getting a boost from these calm, dry conditions. No wind, firm going — Laurel's turf courses should play right down the middle today.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

12:58 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

An 11-horse starter optional claiming field going a mile on the turf features a legitimate rating standout and a serious pace question with several quicker types near the front of the race.

win6DuchessaML 4/1

Duchessa (#6) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and carries a 25% career win rate — a respectable strike rate for this level. Trainer Arnaud Delacour is respected on the grass, and Jorge Ruiz gets a live mount at 4/1 morning line. With a mile on turf as the distance, Duchessa's profile fits perfectly for a horse that should appreciate the extra ground.

place5RecklessML 2/1

Reckless (#5) is the most fascinating horse in this race — a 44% career win rate is eye-catching at any level, and TrackWiz rates this one at 73.54. Trainer Jamie Ness puts Jaime Rodriguez on board, a strong pairing. At 2/1 on the morning line, Reckless might actually be the right call for win, but the place position acknowledges the slight rating edge Duchessa carries.

show1ParkesML 12/1

Parkes (#1) is a sneaky inclusion here at 12/1 morning line with a 71.82 TrackWiz rating — third best in the field. Trainer Suzanne Stettinius has a 20% career win rate with this horse, which shows genuine ability, and Jeiron Barbosa has the rail for easy positioning. At double-digit odds in a mile turf race, Parkes is absolutely worth including in your trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

Race 4

1:27 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Two horses tower over a crowded 14-horse maiden claiming field on dirt — this race has the feel of a match race at the top with some modest supporting cast looking to fill out your exotics.

win10Regency TaleML 8/5

Regency Tale (#10) leads our TrackWiz ratings at an impressive 89.12 — highest of any horse in Race 4 by a noticeable gap. Trainer A. Ferris Allen III sends out Jeiron Barbosa, and the 8/5 morning line signals the market agrees this is the one to beat. Even in a maiden field, a rating this far ahead of the competition is a meaningful edge worth respecting.

place2President CamachoML 2/1

President Camacho (#2) is the logical alternative at 84.13 on our ratings — a strong number in his own right and only a tick below the top pick. Angel Cruz hops aboard for trainer Horacio De Paz, and at 2/1 on the morning line, President Camacho offers real place value if Regency Tale stumbles out of the gate or gets caught in traffic. These two should be 1-2 in some order.

show5Putter ManML 8/1

Putter Man (#5) rates at 61.17 — a clear third in this field — with Gavin Ashton riding for trainer Tim Woolley at 8/1. That gap between the top two and Putter Man is real, but in a 14-horse maiden field on dirt, finding a clean trip at 8/1 for show is worth a ticket. Use Putter Man underneath in trifectas as the most likely third finisher from the remaining group.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 14 runners

Race 5

1:54 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A full maiden field on the turf at 1 1/16 miles with no career wins to parse — the TrackWiz ratings show one clear class horse posting a significant gap over the rest of the field.

win8Virginia FabML 4/1

Virginia Fab (#8) leads this maiden turf route field with a TrackWiz rating of 78.42 — a strong number that stands well above the competition. Carlos Eduardo Lopez takes the mount for trainer Susan S. Cooney, and an average speed figure of 55 is the best of any horse with a posted figure in this field. At 4/1 morning line, you're getting a fair number on the most accomplished-looking entry.

place1Instant StardomML EVN

Instant Stardom (#1) rates at 60 with an average speed of 54, and at even money on the morning line, the oddsmakers clearly view this as a two-horse race at the top. Trainer Rudy R. Rodriguez puts Jaime Rodriguez on board — a sharp rider who knows how to navigate turf routes. The rail draw can be tricky on turf but shouldn't be a significant issue at 1 1/16 miles where the field gets sorted quickly.

show12Maria ElenaML 3/1

Maria Elena (#12) comes in at 56.67 on our ratings — third-best in the field — with Angel Cruz riding for Horacio De Paz at 3/1 morning line. For a show play in an all-maiden turf route, this is a legitimate option with a posted average speed figure of 51 that suggests she's seen the track before. A solid exotics inclusion to complete your trifecta underneath the top pair.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 6

2:23 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A sprawling 16-horse turf claiming field at a mile and a sixteenth where two horses separate clearly from the pack on TrackWiz metrics — but the morning-line favorite doesn't align with our top-rated pick.

win10Grey BiggsyML 5/2

Grey Biggsy (#10) tops this massive field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and checks in at 5/2 on the morning line. Jose A. Batista rides for trainer Cathal A. Lynch, who has a knack for placing horses effectively in claiming races. The 6% career win rate is low, but in a field this size on the turf, positional patterns and raw ability matter more — and the rating says Grey Biggsy belongs at the top.

place2NilambarML 6/1

Nilambar (#2) rates at a strong 78.32 — second best in the field — and Ricardo Chiappe rides for trainer Bruce M. Kravets at 6/1. A career win rate of 7% in a long career is modest, but a 53 average speed figure is right in the mix here and the turf at a mile-plus suits this profile. At 6/1 for place, this is one of the better value positions on the card.

show9CitrineML 3/2

Citrine (#9) draws trainer H. Graham Motion, one of the most respected turf conditioners in the game, and posts a 20% career win rate — the highest of any horse among our three picks in this race. Jose E. Vargas gets the mount at 3/2 morning line, which suggests sharp money is behind this entry. The 63.59 rating is third on our board, making Citrine a logical show anchor in a full-field turf route.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 16 runners

Race 7

2:52 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Ayni enters this maiden dirt sprint as a heavy favorite with a commanding rating edge, but several first-time starters complicate the speed figure picture for the rest of the field.

win8AyniML 7/5

Ayni (#8) owns a 89.42 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark on the card through Race 7 — and goes postward at 7/5 as the clear public choice. Trainer Michael J. Trombetta puts Jorge Ruiz in the irons, a reliable combination that has produced winners consistently at Laurel. An average speed figure of 55 supports the class edge, and this horse simply looks a cut above in a field full of unknowns.

place4BubblingML 9/2

Bubbling (#4) rates at 54.17 — second-best in the race — and Jaime Rodriguez rides for the always-sharp Jamie Ness barn. Ness knows how to win maiden races, and at 9/2 morning line, Bubbling offers genuine place value as the most logical threat to the heavy favorite. Several horses in this field lack posted speed figures, making Bubbling's rating even more meaningful.

show11Russian IrisML 8/1

Russian Iris (#11) checks in at 48.33 with an average speed of 54 — a solid real number in a field where many competitors have no posted figure at all. Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets the mount for W. Robert Bailes at 8/1, and if Ayni gets any kind of trouble trip, Russian Iris is the type who can sneak into the exotics at a very fair price. Use her as your show anchor in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 8

3:22 PM EDT

Rating Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A loaded 14-horse turf sprint at 5.5 furlongs with legitimate speed scattered throughout — the pace scenario could get hot early and set things up for a closer coming from just off the pace.

win3Normandy HeroML 7/2

Normandy Hero (#3) tops our ratings at 86.35 and carries a 21% career win rate — strong production for this level — with Jaime Rodriguez in the irons for trainer Jamie Ness. The average speed figure of 56 is tied for best in the field among our picks, and the 7/2 morning line offers a fair shot at real win value. Ness and Rodriguez are one of the most productive trainer-jockey partnerships at this meet.

place8CactusML 6/1

Cactus (#8) rates at 78.10 with a 25% career win rate — the best win percentage among our three picks in Race 8 — and posts the top average speed figure in the field at 57. Jorge Ruiz rides for Jonathan Maldonado at 6/1, and if Normandy Hero gets caught in the inevitable turf sprint traffic, Cactus has the pure speed to still be running at the wire. A strong place play at a useful price.

show9War HumorML 3/1

War Humor (#9) brings a 71.18 TrackWiz rating and 19% career win rate with Paco Lopez up for W. Robert Bailes at 3/1. Lopez is a sharp addition to any mount and knows how to navigate the turf sprint game. With an average speed of 54, War Humor may not be blazing early, but with pace likely to be honest in a 14-horse sprint, a stalking trip could land this one right in the exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 14 runners

Race 9

3:51 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The best race on the card — an allowance optional claiming sprint at seven furlongs on dirt featuring a horse with a 50% career win rate and a supporting cast of legitimate contenders who could keep things honest.

win5Zero BlitzML 8/5

Zero Blitz (#5) is the standout of the day — an 89.12 TrackWiz rating paired with a staggering 50% career win rate puts this horse in a class by itself in this field. Jorge Ruiz rides for trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, and the 8/5 morning line might actually be a value given what that win percentage implies. An average speed of 55 in an allowance optional claiming race at seven furlongs is competitive, and the record says trust this horse to close the deal.

place6DerbynessML 3/1

Derbyness (#6) is a legitimate challenger at 75.97 on our ratings with a 33% career win rate — the second-highest in the field. Sheldon Russell rides for the Brittany T. Russell barn, a family operation that runs horses sharp and knows how to place them. At 3/1 morning line, Derbyness offers real place value and should be right there if Zero Blitz faces any trouble.

show7Dr. SteveML 6/1

Dr. Steve (#7) rates at 70.53 with a strong 34% career win rate — the second-best win percentage in the entire race — and Andy Hernandez rides for Michael M. Moore at 6/1. This horse is quietly well-qualified at this level, and a show play at 6/1 carries legitimate upside. Don't overlook Dr. Steve in your exacta and trifecta combinations.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 10

4:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

A tighter-than-usual maiden turf sprint to close the card — four horses cluster within 14 rating points at the top, making this one of the more genuinely competitive maiden contests on the day.

win2Cool CustomerML 5/1

Cool Customer (#2) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.17 — a strong number in a maiden turf sprint — and Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets a live mount for trainer W. Robert Bailes, who has been clicking this meet. The 5/1 morning line is actually good value given the rating edge: Cool Customer is the highest-rated horse in Race 10 but not the shortest-priced, meaning the public may be sleeping on this one. An average speed of 54 fits the distance perfectly.

place3Notion in MotionML 6/1

Notion in Motion (#3) rates at 75.74 and posts the best average speed figure among the top picks at 56 — that's a real edge in a 5.5-furlong turf sprint where early positioning matters. Charlie Marquez rides for trainer David P. Duggan at 6/1, making this a genuine value play for place in a race where the speed figure profile suggests a fast-closing bias is possible.

show1StanzaML 2/1

Stanza (#1) closes the card with a 73.96 rating — third in the field — and Jevian Toledo rides for trainer Elizabeth M. Merryman, a solid pairing with local knowledge. At 2/1 on the morning line, Stanza is actually the public's choice, but our ratings suggest Cool Customer has the edge. Still, 73.96 is a real number and Stanza absolutely belongs in your trifectas as a horse capable of hitting the board in a competitive maiden turf closer.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Bottom line for today at Laurel: the turf is playing fast, the weather is cooperating, and the card serves up multiple angles from the jump. Danner, Re Markably, and Duchessa anchor the free card, while Ayni and Zero Blitz headline what our analysis considers the two strongest plays on the full card. Want the complete race-by-race breakdown, pace projections, and exotic ticket strategies? Subscribe to TrackWiz and get everything you need before the first race goes off. Good luck out there.

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