A fresh Request, looks very dangerous

P Day and Full Brush, a pair of 8-year-olds who seem to show up just about any time Laurel Park runs a high-class two-turn race for older horses, are back yet again for Saturday's $75,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Handicap.

It's two other grizzled veterans, however, one a fresh face and the other a runner quite familiar to Maryland fans, who could make the biggest impact in the 1 1/8-mile stakes race.

My Request, a New York-based 6-year-old gelding in extremely sharp form, and First Amendment, a 6-year-old horse who romped in this same race last year, both look extremely dangerous.

A route specialist who excels over Aqueduct's inner track, My Request has put together back-to-back Beyer Speed Figures of 100 and 105 against money allowance company in New York this winter. He will be making his first start since January.

Perhaps that's because a year ago, after My Request registered a career-high 108 Beyer against allowance horses, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. brought him back 15 days later in the Grade 3 Aqueduct Handicap and he finished last. The last two times My Request has raced following an extended layoff, he won at nine furlongs and finished a solid second at 1 1/4 miles. He's the 3-1 favorite on the track's morning line.

First Amendment has also been off since January, when he wired a small group of high-priced optional claimers, earning a 98 Beyer. Last season, First Amendment won 4 of 10 starts. Trained by John Robb and owned by Mike Gill, his victories included the Johnson Memorial with a 108 Beyer, and the Shecky Greene at Delaware with a 103 Beyer.

P Day, who has recorded 11 of his 14 lifetime victories at Laurel, threw in a rare poor effort as the 5-2 favorite in last month's John B. Campbell Handicap. Jockey Ryan Fogelsonger said P Day had a legitimate excuse for his dull performance and expects his mount will be far more competitive Saturday.

"He will definitely run a better race than last time out," Fogelsonger said. "He lost a shoe and we never threatened, but he is P Day and he'll fire again. Even though our post [8] is a little difficult, he is very versatile and you can put him wherever you want. I am looking for a much better effort."

Full Brush, who has been third or better in 16 of his 21 starts at Laurel, has had a two-month freshening since he was beaten a head by P Day in the nine-furlong Native Dancer Handicap.

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