Laurel Park Picks – Saturday, November 21, 2020

Laurel Park brings us a full schedule of maiden, starter, allowance, and claiming races for our Saturday wagering enjoyment.

The weather in Laurel, Maryland should be mild, with partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid-60s, and negligible winds around four mph — which is good since Laurel Park is permitting (with screening) a limited number of spectators to the track.

Read on for my Laurel Park picks and betting tips for Saturday’s richest races.

This is an allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of 1-1/16 miles for a purse of $45,000.

I’m buying a win ticket for the 5/1 underdog Let’s Play Nine, with Trevor McCarthy in the irons. This four-year-old gelding moneyed four of his five career starts, with three wins.

At 12/1, Passion Play, ridden by Alexander Crispin, squeaks into position for a value show bet. This four-year-old gelding finished in the money nine of his 18 career starts, two of them wins, and his 2020 record is better: Four money finishes in five starts, with one win. Crispin also brings his five-pound apprentice allowance to the game.

This is an allowance race for fillies and mares three years old and upward running a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $42,000.

I’m agreeing with the morning line in this race and putting my money on the 7/2 favorite — Fille d’Esprit, with Xavier Perez aboard. This four-year-old filly moneyed five of her six career starts, winning four of them.

I like the 20/1 longshot, Last Love, with veteran jockey Roimes Chirinos in the irons. This five-year-old mare moneyed seven of her 14 career starts, winning four. Show bet only.

This is an allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of 1-1/16 miles for a purse of $45,000.

I’m betting on one of the second-favored entries (there are two at 9/2) in this race — Universal Payday, with Julian Pimentel aboard. This four-year-old gelding finished in the money nine of his ten career starts, winning three.

At 10/1, Paradise Pride, ridden by Jevian Toledo, is a good value show bet in this field. This three-year-old gelding moneyed nine of his 14 career starts, winning three.

Laurel Park has plenty of profit opportunities, and I found more at the other two tracks I reviewed for Saturday: