Tesio winner earns automatic entry into the Preakness Stakes
Weber City Miss a “Win Today, See You in May” qualifier for Black-Eyed Susan
Five stakes at Laurel worth $600,000 in purses
Full, competitive fields ensure solid wagering opportunities

LAUREL, MD—“Preakness Preview Day” is Saturday, April 18, at Laurel Park, featuring a 12-race program with full fields, the “Preakness Preview Day Handicapping Challenge,” five stakes races totaling $600,000 in purses, and “Win Today, See You in May” qualifying races.

“Preakness Preview Day” drew 120 entrants, ensuring solid wagering opportunities for handicappers. There will be two “Value Pick 5” bets on the program, with a 50-cent minimum and a low 12% takeout. Both “Value Pick 5” sequences, covering the first five races on the card and the last five in the afternoon, offer carryover potential. The first race is at 12:00 pm ET.

The “Preakness Preview Day Handicapping Challenge” is a hybrid on-site and online handicapping contest with a $500 buy-in, half of which goes to a live-money bankroll.

Players may participate at Laurel Park with on-site registration beginning at 11 am ET on Saturday, or online via Xpressbet, TwinSpires, and TVG/4NJBETS. Cash prizes are awarded to the top five finishers. The top three finishers may choose either one full seat in the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge or one of two available prize packs for the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship. Visit here for terms and conditions.

The five stakes are highlighted by two “Win Today, See You in May” qualifiers. Any Triple Crown-nominated runner who wins the $150,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles will automatically earn a starting gate spot in the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Preakness, the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

The winner of the $150,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles receives an automatic berth in the Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Eve.

Maryland’s first three turf stakes of the year are part of “Preakness Preview Day” festivities. The $100,000 Henry Clark is for 3-year-olds and up at one mile, and the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury is for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs. The $100,000 Dahlia is for fillies and mares at one mile.

“Preakness Preview Day” is presented by John Deere.

*Unbeaten Taj Mahal tries two turns in Federico Tesio

Taj Mahal, unbeaten in two starts, makes his two-turn debut in the Federico Tesio.

Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, the Nyquist colt went straight to the lead and held off all challengers to win the Miracle Wood Stakes on February 21.

“That’s a long way for him to be in front by himself,” trainer Brittany Russell said after the Miracle Wood. “Around the turn, I wondered if we were starting to go empty a little bit. But that was gutsy. That’s a nice horse. He’s still figuring some things out. This race will really tighten him up.”

Taj Mahal drew post position 10 in the Federico Tesio. Sheldon Russell retains the mount.

Debut winner Volendam breaks from post two with jockey Mychel Sanchez and is named the 3-1 morning-line favorite by Ed DeRosa of Horse Racing Nation.

Owned by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing and trained by Michael Maker, Volendam sold for $600,000 as a yearling and rallied from off the pace to win a six-furlong maiden special weight race on March 21 at Turfway Park on the Tapeta surface.

High-percentage trainer Gary Capuano entered Private Terms Stakes winner Wild Warrior and Let’s Go Lando, who finished second in the Miracle Wood and third in the Private Terms.

All three of Wild Warrior’s victories came in two-turn route races, and Capuano’s confidence in the colt’s stamina was validated when Wild Warrior rebounded from a fifth-place finish in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid Stakes to win the Private Terms on March 21.

“We’ve always thought a lot of him,” Capuano said in the Private Terms winner’s circle. “He broke good; he had a good trip. At the sixteenth pole, I didn’t think he was catching [Code of Silence], and then you could just see him grinding. He gutted it out. He’s got some quickness if you need it, but he’s got that stamina. He’ll hang in there.”

Yedsit Hazlewood, the nation’s winningest rider in 2026, rides Wild Warrior from post four for Rose Petal Stable.

Eagle Up Stables and London Reid Thoroughbreds’ Let’s Go Lando starts next door from post five, ridden by jockey Paco Lopez. The consistent campaigner has hit the board in eight of ten starts and has steadily improved since being gelded and stretched out in distance.

Mount Peru Farm’s Code of Silence captured last year’s restricted Maryland Juvenile Stakes. He finished third in the Spectacular Bid and was a close second in the Private Terms after taking the lead in the stretch.

“Obviously, just a little disappointed in the Private Terms,” said trainer Tim Keefe. “Not in his effort at all, but just in the outcome. It looked like he was a winner at the sixteenth pole.”

Code of Silence has been a work in progress and is still learning the game. Keefe wonders whether he lost his focus once he took the lead.

“[I’m not sure] whether he got in front, and just kind of looked around a little, and got a little lost trying to figure things out,” Keefe said. “I think the [Tesio] distance will be great for him. I think it will set up well for him, and I’m certainly looking forward to Saturday.”

Angel Cruz is back aboard Code of Silence from post nine.

Bird and Grady’s Close the Gate has never been off the board in five starts and has earned stakes placings in both the Spectacular Bid and the Miracle Wood. Trained by John Salzman Jr., Close the Gate finished third, beaten a half-length, in a first-level allowance at Colonial Downs on March 12.

“He’s done everything that I’ve asked of him,” Salzman said. “I ran him at Colonial because I wanted to get two good [one-mile] races in him, and then go to the 1 1/8 miles with a little extra time in between races, too.”

Salzman is curious about the extra distance.

“Everything about him says he’s a mile horse,” he admitted. “He’s not a big, heavy horse. He looks like he’d go long, but I don’t know. That’s what I told my owners. We’re taking a chance. The good part about him is that he is versatile as far as [running style].”

Salzman was pleased with Close the Gate’s five-furlong bullet breeze on April 4. Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. rode Close the Gate in that workout and will guide the horse from post six.

Brittany Russell also entered Silverton Hill’s Hixon, who has won two of three starts, including a first-level allowance on muddy going on March 6. Hixon drew the inside post with Jevian Toledo aboard.

Stakes-placed Higher Sense, Chayton, and Classic Nofty also entered.

Named for the noted Italian breeder, owner, and trainer whose homebreds Nearco and Ribot dominate Thoroughbred bloodlines worldwide. A total of 24 Tesio winners have run in the Preakness, with the most recent being Pay Billy in 2025. Maryland-bred Deputed Testamony is the only horse to sweep both races, accomplishing the feat in 1983.