Friday’s Best Bet: Determined Driver can persevere at Laurel

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Friday’s seventh race at Laurel Park is an optional-claiming event for 3-year-old fillies dashing six furlongs on the main track. The scheduled post time is 3:33 p.m. EST.

Click here for Laurel Park entries and results.

No. 3 Determined Driver (5-2) stalked and scored as a 16-1 long shot in her turf sprint bow at Colonial Downs last summer, and the runner-up was a next-out winner. She switched to dirt and landed the place in the Timonium Juvenile her second time out. Phil Schoenthal’s Dialed In filly is firing Fair Hill bullets for this engagement. 

No. 7 I’m a Cutie Pie (7-5) stalked the pace and was second-best in a local flat-mile affair Jan. 12. She dueled and edged clear at this course and distance at the end of her juvenile campaign. 

No. 2 Blue Trillion (8-1) added blinkers and graduated Jan. 14, and her new trainer Damon Dilodovico excels with his first-after-the-claim starters. She will probably stalk the pace at a price.

No. 5 Lady Charlotte (8-1) added blinkers and wired the field as the favorite in her last two extended sprints at Laurel. The sharp filly cuts back a furlong and meets tougher rivals. 

Wagers

No. 3 to win

Exacta 2-3-5/7

Trifecta 3-7/2-3-5-7/2-3-5-7

Recent Best Bet winners

Sunday – Point Dume ($5.60), exacta ($11.40) 
Thursday – Sonofaship ($10.60), exacta ($33.60), trifecta ($75.20)

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