Federico Tesio, Weber City Miss highlight Laurel Park spring meet

Nine stakes worth $950,000 in purses led by the $125,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds and $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies doubleheader April 20 will be offered during Laurel Park’s 2024 spring meet.

The 15-day schedule opens April 5, with live racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 5. Post time will be 12:25 p.m. EDT each day with the exception of a noon EDT start on Kentucky Derby day, May 4.

Named for the noted Italian breeder, owner and trainer whose homebreds Nearco and Ribot dominate Thoroughbred bloodlines around the world, the 1 1/8-mile Tesio for a ninth straight year serves as a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated 3-year-olds to the Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico.

The 43rd running of the Tesio headlines a program featuring five stakes worth $550,000 in purses, including the first three of the season scheduled for the turf, on the second of back-to-back stakes Saturdays. The first will feature four $100,000 stakes April 13.

Twenty-two Tesio winners went on to run in the Preakness, the last being Alwaysmining in 2019 with Maryland-bred Deputed Testamony in 1983 the only horse to sweep both races. Last year’s winner Perform was supplemented for $150,000 to the Preakness, where he finished fifth for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Happy Saver won the Tesio in 2020 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher as a prelude to his next-out victory over older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Runners-up Ruler On Ice in 2011 and Monday Morning Qb in 2020 went on to capture the Belmont Stakes and Maryland Million Classic, respectively.

Maryland already has run two prep races for 3-year-olds this year with Guanare taking the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid on Jan. 27 and Speedyness winning the one-mile Miracle Wood on Feb. 24. The 1 1/16-mile Private Terms is scheduled for March 16.

Following the six-furlong Xtra Heat, seven-furlong Wide Country and one-mile Beyond the Wire as Maryland’s 3-year-old filly prep races, the Weber City Miss provides the winner with an automatic berth to the 100th Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on May 17. Roanan Goddess captured the Jan. 27 Xtra Heat and was third behind Miss Harriett in the Feb. 24 Wide Country. The Beyond the Wire will be run March 16.

Also on the April 20 program are the $100,000 Henry S. Clark for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares 3 and older, both going one mile, and the 5 1/2-furlong King T. Leatherbury, also for 3-year-olds and up in the first 2024 stakes scheduled for Laurel’s turf course.

Spring stakes action begins April 13 with four $100,000 events on the main track, including the seven-furlong Frank Y. Whiteley and 1 1/8-mile Native Dancer for 3-year-olds and up and the six-furlong Primonetta and one-mile Heavenly Cause for fillies and mares 3 and older.