With daylong showers predicted throughout the day, we look away from the beloved Laurel turf course to the main track feature, an optional/allowances going 7 furlongs and an interesting, open challenge it is.
Assessing the shape of a race that will develop when the riders will play the break is not easy. And how wet will the track be? Will it be tiring or speed favoring, and we don’t have the liberty of watching the first six races.
We have no choice but to gamble on Fortunate Friend (7-2) who likes the trip (2-for-6), likes the strip (2-for-4), has never been off the board in four wet track attempts.
He was a game second–yes, in a 5-horse field–but chased the pace throughout in a highly graded race and kept trying, even though victory was out of his grasp.
A rise in class off a loss is a sign of confidence from the barn of Damon Dilodovico, who is lifetime profitable with his sprinters and is 29% effective with beaten favorites.
Regular partner Horacio Karamanos is in the boot and he’s drawn well, the outside in a small field. He looks most likely to succeed.
Taking Fortunate Friend to win at 5-2 or greater and key-box exactas with Horse for Course John Jones (3-1) and fast working returnee, Deal Driven (8-1).
