Pick 3 of the Week: Laurel Park Saturday, October 24

 Laurel Park will host a big day for regionally bred runners on Saturday during Maryland Millions Day. 

Race 9 Wager

$5 Pick 3: 4,6,9 with 2,7,14 with 2 ($45)

Race 9 – Nursery S. 

A full field of juveniles will speed six panels on the dirt to commence the play. I liked the debut win recorded by #6 Monster Mitch (5-1) on the oval and will give him the slight nod in a tricky first leg of the sequence. Trained by Hugh McMahon, the $35,000 son of Great Notion did everything right in his first appearance and has obvious room to improve going forward. Charlie Marquez inherits the mount. 

#9 Walt’s Notion (4-5) is a head shy of being unbeaten from three career runs for Phil Capuano and is the obvious one to beat beneath Paco Lopez. The $48,000 yearling purchase has substantial early foot and a fine draw outside of the other pace in the race. #4 Futile Gesture (15-1) gets back on the dirt following a trio of grassy races as of late and has great value for Trombetta. The March foal will stalk the pace early under Jorge Ruiz. 

Race 10 – Turf S. 

The Derek Ryan-trained #7 Thundering (4-5) is the one to beat in the nine-furlong turf endeavor on the grass. By Mosler, the four-year-old gelding was a convincing winner in his lone run on the course three back, and he also aired over an overmatched field at Colonial last time out, too. Paco Lopez retains the mount. 

Graham Motion’s #2 Alakan (5-1) will appreciate the move in with state-bred foes on Saturday and, in my opinion, is a must-use. The Galawi sophomore broke his maiden on the surface and comes in fresh for a potent layoff outfit. Jose Vargas will take the reins. #14 War Humor (20-1) earned his lifetime-best Brisnet Speed rating in his lone route race on the green, and the bay gelding is worth including at a massive price on this day. The Robert Bailes trainee will add pace to the race with Rajiv Maragh on board

Race 11 – Classic S. 

An overflow cast has been entered for the 1 ⅛-mile tilt on the dirt that offers a $150,000 purse. Millionaire #2 Barbadian Runner (2-5) will be a single on many tickets and deservedly so. Trained by Henry Walters, the four-year-old son of Barbados captured the race in 2025 while facing a tougher field and looms a huge chance on Saturday with something close to his best run. Dark bay gelding has won or placed in 12 of 14 lifetime runs on the strip and will be popular at the windows beneath regular pilot Forest Boyce.