Souper Lucky, Page McKenney square off in Johnson Memorial

The Harrison Johnson Memorial is the better of the two $100,000 races for 3-year-olds and up on the four-stakes Saturday card at Laurel Park.

The Johnson Memorial, at 1 1/8 miles, will pit Souper Lucky, who earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure last time out while winning a fourth-level optional-claiming race at Laurel, against the wonder claim Page McKenney, who won the John B. Campbell in his most recent outing. Not to be forgotten is Turco Bravo, who has raced well in three straight stakes and is overdue for a win.

Souper Lucky freaked in his last start, winning a 1 1/16-mile race in the mud by 9 3/4 lengths. He was given a 110 Beyer, the fourth-best this year at more than a mile, trailing only the figures earned by Constitution, Lea, and Shared Belief.

In 16 previous starts, his best figure had been a 93. Was it the mud? Maybe.

But then again, Souper Lucky is a 4-year-old by Giant’s Causeway and out of a Seeking the Gold mare, bred and owned by the Live Oak Plantation of Charlotte Weber, and may just now be reaching his prime. Souper Lucky has five daylight wins in eight starts since being transferred to trainer Mike Trombetta last summer.

Page McKenney was claimed by trainer Mary Eppler for $16,000 out of a sixth-place effort in July 2013. In 18 starts since, Page McKenney has won nine times, including three stakes, while earning $420,000. Page McKenney has finished first or second in 11 of his last 12 starts. Expect another honest effort Saturday by the late-running 5-year-old.

Turco Bravo finished second to Elnaawi in the Native Dancer Stakes here in January, then 16 days later was second in the Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct, beaten three-quarters of a length by Micromanage. He was third for trainer Gary Contessa in his last start, the Evening Attire Stakes in New York.

A 5-year-old bred in Chile, Turco Bravo is 10 for 38 in his career but still is searching for his first U.S. win since being imported from his native country last summer.

Trainer Chad Brown sends in Mail, who is coming off a third-level optional-claiming win at Parx in February.

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Printasticat heads Conniver

The $100,000 Conniver at seven furlongs has attracted eight Maryland-bred fillies and mares.

The 6-year-old Printasticat has spent the majority of her career in the claiming ranks. She has blossomed since being claimed by trainer Claudio Gonzalez for $8,000 a year ago and enters this race off three straight one-sided victories, including a first-level allowance two starts ago. She also won the Maryland Million Distaff Starter last October.

Ten for 43 in her career, Printasticat has a good chance at her first unrestricted stakes victory Saturday.

Jonesin for Jerry, who won a second-level optional-claiming race for trainer Jerry Robb in her last start, could be Printasticat’s toughest rival.