Laurel: C.C.'s Pal heads Barbara Fritchie field

The versatile C.C.’s Pal, a stakes winner at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, heads a field of nine fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.

C.C.’s Pal, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., drew post 3 in the field of nine fillies and mares set to run seven furlongs. The Fritchie tops a nine-race card that also includes the $100,000 John B. Campbell Handicap for older males at 1 1/8 miles.

First post Saturday at Laurel is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with a ceremony celebrating the exploits of Rapid Redux scheduled for after the third.

Owner Eric Fein transferred C.C.’s Pal to Dutrow in late summer and the horse won the Miss Golden Circle Stakes by three-quarters of a length. After finishing third in the Grade 2 Go for Wand on Nov. 25, C.C’s Pal won the Garland of Roses at six furlongs on Dec. 3 and the Ladies Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 1.

“She’s got faster numbers sprinting,’’ Dutrow said. “Seven-eighths is well within her.”

Junior Alvarado, aboard C.C.’s Pal for her last two wins, will make the trip to Laurel for the Fritchie.

Trainer Mike Hushion will ship down the uncoupled entry of Nicole H and Lovely Lil for the Fritchie. Nicole H has won five of her last six starts, with her only loss being a nose decision to It’s Me Mom in the Robert M. O’Malley Stakes at Suffolk last Oct. 22.

Since then, Nicole H has won the Interborough and the Correction, both at six furlongs over the inner track at Aqueduct.

Nicole H has won at seven furlongs, taking the Grade 2 Distaff at Aqueduct last April 16. Nicole H will break from post 7 under Ramon Dominguez.

Lovely Lil won the Grade 2 Go for Wand at Aqueduct last Nov. 25 before finishing second as the 1-5 favorite in a two-turn overnight stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 13. She will break from post 6 with Julian Pimentel aboard.

The others entered are Aquitania, Red’s Round Table, Magical Feeling, Lily Quatorze, Terra Rolla and Silver Heart.

Heart Butte, who had a four-race win streak snapped when finishing fourth in the Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, drew the outside post in a six-horse field entered for the Campbell.

Others entered are Indian Dance, Thunder Lord, Concealed Identity, Jimanator and Houston Bull.

The Campbell will go as race 6 on the program.

Barbara Fritchie H. (G2), Post Time: 3:55 ET Saturday

Purse: $200,000; 7 furlongs