Guillot sends Laoban in Dwyer

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Eric Guillot won the Dwyer Stakes three years ago with Moreno, who was coming off a maiden victory three weeks earlier. This year, Guillot will try to win the Dwyer with Laoban, who, despite having competed in four graded stakes, remains a maiden.

Laoban, a son of Uncle Mo, finished third in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita in February and second in the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct in March. After finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass, he didn’t have enough points to make it into the Kentucky Derby field. He ran in the Preakness and finished sixth.

On Saturday, Laoban will be backing up to a one-turn mile while putting blinkers back on. Laoban did not wear blinkers in the Preakness.

“He needs them,” Guillot said. “I like this horse backing up and freshened. He didn’t run that bad in the Preakness considering he hated the mud, was eight wide, and stumbled out of the gate.”

John Velazquez will ride Laoban from post 4. He is one of two speed horses in the race. Fish Trappe Road, the runner-up in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day, is the other speed and will break from post 8.