Maryland Million card lures 112

The $250,000 Maryland Million Classic Stakes, headliner of a 12-race program at Laurel Park for Maryland-breds on Saturday, drew seven horses at Wednesday's post-position draw, including last year's winner, Presidentialaffair.

The 1 3/16-mile Classic is the richest race on Saturday's card. Presidentialaffair, a 6-year-old gelding who will be ridden by Stewart Elliott, will be challenged by multiple stakes winners Cherokee's Boy and Aggadan. Cherokee's Boy, who will be ridden by Travis Dunkelberger, was cross-entered in the Sprint, but is expected to run in the Classic.

In total, the 12 races on Maryland Million Day drew 112 horses. The races this year will offer purses of $1.5 million, up 50 percent compared to last year.

Returning winners from last year's Maryland Million card also include Dr. Detroit, who will face 11 others in the $150,000 Maryland Million Turf Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The field also includes La Reine's Terms, a 10-year-old horse who won the Turf in 2002.

Defending champion My Poker Player returns in the Sprint. He will face seven others in the six-furlong, $150,000 race, including multiple stakes winner Crossing Point and Saay Mi Name.

In the Turf Sprint, Namestar is back to defend his title in the $100,000, five-furlong race against 10 others. The $150,000 Distaff failed to attract the expected headliner, multiple stakes winner Silmaril, but still drew nine for the seven-furlong race.

The two 2-year-old stakes races, the Lassie and Nursery, drew fields of 10 and 11 horses, respectively. Each race is worth $125,000 and will be contested at seven furlongs on the dirt.