Laurel Park Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 2/18/23

The Winter Spectacular continues Saturday with a big day of racing at Laurel Park in Maryland. Six stakes races on the 10-race card include a pair of Grade 3 races with picks below. Post time is 12:25 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions with a good chance of rain Saturday.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Laurel Park Betting Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Treasure Trove and Vance Scholars, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 4/1
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Race 6 is the $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. The numberFire data projects Treasure Trove (6/1) to win ahead of Vance Scholars (4/1) and the favorite Ournationonparade (3/1).

2. Pass the Champagne and Union Lake, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 3/1
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Race 8 is the $250,000 Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes for older fillies and mares at 7 furlongs. The numberFire algorithm projects Swayin' to and Fro (5/1) to outduel Pass the Champagne (3/1) and Liscolvin (10/1).

Horse Racing Nation's Super Screener picks Pass the Champagne and Union Lake (3/1) as top win contenders over the slight favorite Fille d'Esprit (5/2) .

Union Lake faces an easier field from recent races and will press the pace while reserving energy. Pass the Champagne is a lightly-raced 5-year-old mare who cuts back in distance for her second race off a long layoff. An ideal stalking trip with plenty of reserve energy makes her a top win pick.

3. John the Bear and Eastern Bay, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 15/1 and 4/1
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Race 9 is the $250,000 Grade 3 General George Stakes for older horses at seven furlongs. The Horse Racing Nation projections call for longshot John the Bear (15/1) as a win contender and reliable board hitter at big odds. Eastern Bay (4/1) is a top win contender with favorites Factor In It (5/2) and Beren (3/1) top picks of numberFire to use underneath in exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering.

Eastern Bay is a 9-year-old gelding who is still firing big efforts against better runners. John the Bear fits a winning profile for this race as a forwardly-placed type who makes his stakes debut off back-to-back sprint wins. He's 3-for-3 in the exacta (top-2) at this 7-furlong distance and is 8-for-13 on this surface.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.