O Dionysus stands out in Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes

The three $75,000 stakes preceding the Native Dancer at Laurel Park on Saturday are the Frank Whiteley Jr. and the Marshua, both for 3-year-olds, and the Nellie Morse, for older fillies and mares.

The four stakes are part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6. The final three stakes are included in the 12-percent-takeout pick five, but the Whiteley, carded as race 4, is not.

O Dionysus figures to be a strong favorite in the seven-furlong Whiteley for trainer Gary Capuano. O Dionysus, a son of Bodemeister, lost a tight photo to the promising Irish War Cry in the Dec. 31 Marylander Stakes. It was 10 lengths back to the third-place finisher.

O Dionysus was making his first start in blinkers in that race, and he certainly seemed focused. Irish War Cry is 2 for 2 and is now in Florida with trainer Graham Motion.

The six-furlong Marshua has attracted nine fillies, six of whom faced the talented runners Ms Locust Point or Crabcakes in their most recent race. Star Super, who was clearly second-best to Ms Locust Point, is the horse to beat but will be facing some improving runners.

Star Super, trained by Cal Lynch, is 1 for 6 but has placed in three stakes. She finished third in the Sorority at Monmouth Park in September and then second in the Smart Halo at Laurel in November.

She made her debut for Lynch in the Gin Talking on Dec. 31 and was beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Ms Locust Point, who is now being pointed to the Grade 2 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. Star Super was 6 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Lucky in Malibu, who also is entered in this race.

The nine-horse Nellie Morse will match Marabea and Mecke’s Madalyn at 1 1/16 miles.

Marabea has won two straight races since being claimed for $25,000 by trainer Lacey Gaudet in September. She won a $25,000 starter race at Laurel and then rallied from far back to win the $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara at Gulfstream Park.

Marabea made the first three starts of her career in Italy before being imported to the U.S. She is 5 for 12 but has made all of her previous starts on turf. Gaudet is her fifth trainer.

Mecke’s Madalyn is based at Fair Hill with trainer Corby Caiazzo. A New York-bred, her last four starts have come against statebred stakes company at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Saratoga, and Finger Lakes. She has faced some salty rivals in those races, and it will be interesting to see how she fits against this group.