Carryovers: Two Pick 5s at Laurel, Super High 5 at Gulfstream

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in Sunday carryovers at Laurel Park and Gulfstream Park.

Laurel Park: A pair of Pick 5 carryovers

Assuming hot weather doesn’t lead to the cancellation of Sunday racing at Laurel Park, bettors will be able to chase a pair of five-figure Pick 5 carryovers to close out the weekend.

The 50-cent Early Pick 5 starting in Race 1 (post time 12:10 p.m. ET) boasts a huge $58,194 carryover. The prize pool for the 50-cent Late Pick 5 starting in Race 5 (post time 2:10 p.m. ET) is smaller at $32,328, but it’s still an excellent betting opportunity.

The two Pick 5 sequences overlap in Race 5, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on dirt. Take care handicapping the seven-horse field, because if you fail to identify the winner, you won’t hit either carryover.

#6 Maida (7-5) is a clear favorite on the morning line after finishing a pacesetting fourth in her debut over this distance in a maiden special weight for three-year-olds at Pimlico. Since trainer Brittany Russell wins at a powerful 30% rate with second-time starters, there’s reason to project Maida will improve on Sunday.

But we can’t recommend Maida as a single. In her debut, she finished behind #4 Pneumo Warrior (5-1), who has cracked the trifecta in both her starts sprinting six furlongs on dirt. Now she’s getting a seven-pound weight break courtesy of apprentice jockey Matilda Burnham, which may help Pneumo Warrior maintain her edge over Maida.

We must also include Florida shipper #1 Awesome McKinzie (3-1), who earned a sharp 73 Brisnet Speed rating when rallying for third place in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park last month. She’s faster than Maida and Pneumo Warrior on the Brisnet scale and must be respected in her Laurel Park debut.

Gulfstream Park: $6,468 Super High 5 carryover

The weather is supposed to be a bit cooler at Gulfstream Park than Laurel, so even if Laurel cancels, bettors should at least be able to pursue Gulfstream’s $6,468 Super High 5 carryover.

The $1 wager is available to bet in Race 10, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares racing one mile on turf. The nine-horse field is led by #5 Turino (7-5), a trifecta finisher in each of her first two starts against maiden special weight competition on turf.

But here’s the problem: Turino hasn’t raced since 2023. Even though trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wins at a 22% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, the long break is an obvious question mark for Turino.

#9 Lisca Bianca (4-1) is a logical alternative. She’s finished third in a couple of five-furlong maiden special weights on turf and Tapeta at Gulfstream Park. As a daughter of Candy Ride out of a mare by Medaglia d’Oro, Lisca Bianca has the pedigree to thrive while stretching out over one mile. Whatever you do, don’t leave Lisca Bianca off the top of your tickets.

Good luck!