Whereshetoldmetogo sitting on a good one in Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes

When asked to describe Whereshetoldmetogo’s best attributes, trainer Brittany Russell was quick to answer: “He just loves the game. He’s just pure racehorse. He loves to train, he loves work day. He loves to do it.”

Whereshetoldmetogo seeks his fourth consecutive stakes victory when he starts favored in the Frank Y. Whiteley, one of seven stakes on the Saturday card at Pimlico. The Whiteley, for 3-year-olds and up, originally was scheduled for seven furlongs at Laurel, but was shortened to six furlongs with the change in venue.

“To be fair, I kind of like cutting back to six,” Russell said. “It’s all good.”

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While some handicappers might be concerned that Whereshetoldmetogo’s Beyer Speed Figure dropped 16 points, from 99 to 83, when he won the Not For Love Stakes last month, his only race this year, Russell isn’t fazed.

“He wasn’t meant to run his best race that day,” Russell said. “We had freshened him up a little bit and I hadn’t really drilled on him in the morning. Give the horse some credit. He got the job done.”

While Whereshetoldmetogo is ready to go on Saturday, Russell said he might even fare better next time out.

“This horse moves forward with racing,” Russell said. “You’d like to say he’ll run another good race this time. Probably third race off that little freshening, I think you’ll really see a good one.”

Lining up against the favorite is 10-time winner Laki, who won the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial in October the last time he raced at Pimlico. Laki finished third in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel on Feb. 20 in his last start. He ran without Lasix in that race but goes back on it for the Whiteley.

Multiple stakes winner Lebda, Grade 3-placed Absentee, and stakes-winner Arthur’s Hope also should factor.

King T. Leatherbury Stakes

Francatelli is capable on both dirt and turf, and the speedy 4-year-old is set to make his seasonal debut in the King T. Leatherbury, a five-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up. There is a high chance of rain in the area on Saturday, but it may not arrive until after the card has been run.

Francatelli has worked steadily and quickly, including a six-furlong gate work in 1:12 on April 8. While trainer Cal Lynch admitted that Francatelli “needs to bring his A game,” he seems happy with the way his gelding is coming up to the race.

Completed Pass ran one of the more remarkable races of the 2020 Maryland turf season when he scored in the Laurel Dash on Sept. 7 despite clipping heels and almost going down on the turn. Completed Pass, who usually stalks the pace, makes his first start since November in the Leatherbury.

Other logical contenders in the Leatherbury are stakes winner So Street and stakes-placed Love You Much.

Carotari is entered in the Leatherbury but will stay at Churchill Downs, where he is training, because of the forecast for rain at Pimlico, trainer Brian Lynch said.

Dahlia Stakes

Trainer Graham Motion planned on having Crystal Cliffs return to the races at Aqueduct on April 15, but that race was washed off the turf and she was scratched. Plan B for Crystal Cliffs is to kick off her 4-year-old campaign in the $100,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Crystal Cliffs last raced on June 27, running second in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs. Despite the layoff, Motion is pleased with what he’s seen from Crystal Cliffs.

“She had some niggling issues,” he said. “We gave her some time off over the winter. She’s not a real big, robust filly. She’s very game, very straightforward. I’m not concerned about fitness.”

Sent off the 13-10 favorite in the Regret, she finished second to Harvey’s Lil Goil, who would go on to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November.

“I think she was a little unlucky,” Motion said about the Regret. “She just didn’t get through and couldn’t quite get there.”

Crystal Cliffs’s main competition could come from Vigilantes Way, winner of the Tropical Park Oaks against fellow 3-year-olds at Gulfstream on Dec. 26. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Vigilantes Way finished fifth in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River on Jan. 23 in her most recent start.

Henry S. Clark Stakes

With a full field of 12 3-year-olds and up entered for turf, the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes at 1 1/16 miles might be the best betting race on the card.

Pixelate gets some class relief in the Clark after chasing Colonel Liam, perhaps the best turf male in the country, in his last two starts. He’ll face a strong group that includes Grade 1-placed Corelli, Grade 3 winners Eons and Ballagh Rocks, and multiple stakes winner Doc Boy.