BALTIMORE – If trainer Henry Walters was more motivated by pomp and grandeur, it’s a distinct possibility that 3-year-old gelding Barbadian Runner would be receiving national attention this weekend as a plucky local runner in the Preakness. Instead, he will try something drastically different in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes, a one-mile turf race. When the gelding powered home to win the $150,000 Miracle Wood in February, beating Preakness runner Pay Billy by a nose, he climbed another rung in Laurel Park’s 3-year-old stakes program. It’s often regarded as a back door to Triple Crown entry, but Walters never had much interest in the Preakness. “It’s a long season for 3-year-olds,” Walters said. “I didn’t really point toward the Preakness. It’s a mile and three-sixteenths; I didn’t think that was in his repertoire. There are so many opportunities going forward.” :: Get Preakness Betting Strategies for exclusive wagering insights, contender analysis, and more Walters insists that Barbadian Runner’s lone turf attempt in 11 career starts was better than it appears. In a $49,000 allowance on the grass at Laurel in October, he was bumped at the start and had to repeatedly check before closing in the stretch to finish third. He has not finished outside the money in five starts on dirt since. “We know he runs on the dirt,” Walters said. “We’ll try him on the turf and we’ll see if he can stand up against that caliber of horse.” Barbadian Runner is one of six 3-year-olds in the field of 10 making their turf stakes debut. Clock Tower, a gelding trained by Wesley Ward, is the only runner with a turf stakes victory, which he earned in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar last year. In February, Ward brought the gelding back to California to prepare for the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby, but he didn’t show much on dirt in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis. In the Grade 3 Transylvania back on the grass at Keeneland last month, he settled near the front early but faded to eighth in the stretch. “That mile and a sixteenth at Keeneland stretches a little beyond his reach,” Ward said. “He’s an excellent seven-furlong horse, but with no Belmont anymore, you don’t have those races here. A mile, he can handle going around two turns, but he’s gotta be in front.” Reagan’s Wit, a colt trained by Cherie DeVaux, just missed in the Columbia at Tampa Bay Downs and came back to finish fourth, ahead of Clock Tower, in the Transylvania. DeVaux was not discouraged by either defeat and believes that he is on a stakes-winning trajectory. Jim McKay Turf Sprint Finding the pacesetter in the $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico Race Course Saturday could be more difficult than finding the winner. At least five horses in the field of nine could realistically vie for the early lead. Those who can sit off the pace in the 5 1/2-furlong race may have a distinct advantage. Boat’s a Rockin, Coppola, and Fore Harp would all be considered the speed of the speed in most fields, but the trio must square off for that honor on Saturday. While his two rivals are still looking for their first victory of the year, Fore Harp, a 7-year-old gelding, led through sharp early fractions to win the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury at Laurel Park last month. He drew the rail that day but will have to break from the far outside post in the Jim McKay. “He’ll be forwardly placed and I like the outside post,” trainer Butch Reid said. “If someone gets a little crazy down inside of him, he can get comfortable either way.” A pair of 5-year-old dirt sprinters shipping in from Charles Town could further complicate matters. Trainer Jeff Runco said that Duncan Idaho will probably only run if the race is taken off the turf, but Anthony Farrior said that Honeyquist will run regardless. The speedy gelding won the only turf race of his career running 5 1/2 furlongs at Ellis Park last year. With so much early speed, stalking types like No Nay Hudson and Determined Kingdom could inherit the lead in the stretch. Determined Kingdom is looking to bounce back from a dull effort off a layoff, but No Nay Hudson fired fresh last time out to win a Keeneland allowance for Wesley Ward. “He’s a five-furlong horse, but really, he’s kind of like a 4 1/2-furlong horse,” Ward said. “If the jocks try to use his speed early, he’s got nothing left, but if you get him back and make that one punch, then he saves that.” If the pace is hot enough for a deep closer to pick up the pieces, the 6-year-old gelding Witty will be an overwhelming danger. Trainer Elizabeth Merryman said that he has plenty to build on this season after overcoming trouble to finish second behind Fore Harp in the Leatherbury last time out. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.