Preakness contender to emerge from Saturday stakes

Laurel Park has five stakes Saturday, topped by the final local preps for the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan.

The winner of the $125,000 Federico Tesio, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, will be assured entrance into the Grade 1, $1.5 million Preakness on May 19, and his owner will save $30,000 in entry and starter fees. The Tesio entrants include Diamond King, whom trainer John Servis would like to see advance to the Preakness, and Still Having Fun, a two-time local stakes winner, both for Tim Keefe.

Other contenders include V. I. P. Code, the 36-1 winner of the $100,000 Private Terms for Phil Schoenthal; Noble Commander, who is 2 for 2 against Florida-bred company and is trained by Mark Casse; and Navy Commander, a 10-length allowance winner at Parx for Butch Reid.

For a horse to be eligible for the Win and You're In bonus, he must be nominated to the Triple Crown. Of the 11 in the Tesio field, Diamond King, Dynamic Asset, Still Having Fun, and V.I.P. Code are Triple Crown-eligible.

Navy Commander is cross-entered in the $85,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town on Saturday.

The $125,000 Weber City Miss, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, is a Win and You’re In for the Grade 2, $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan at 1 1/8 miles on May 18.

The other three Saturday stakes are the $100,000 Henry Clark, for 3-year-olds and up, and the $100,000 Dahlia, for fillies and mares, both at a mile on turf, and the $100,000 Primonetta, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.