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Volendam, Taj Mahal to Clash in Tesio Stakes

Second-choice Taj Mahal is perfect through two races to begin his career.

Volendam wins his career debut at Turfway Park

Volendam wins his career debut at Turfway Park

Coady Media

A field of 10 will vie for an automatic entry into the Preakness Stakes (G1) when they meet in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park April 18.

Laurel Park will host the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, May 16.

Resolute Racing's Volendam comes in off an impressive debut March 21 at Turfway Park, winning on the all-weather track by 2 lengths. The Vekoma  chestnut, trained by Mike Maker, arrives as the morning-line favorite at 3-1.

The second choice at 7-2 is Taj Mahal, who is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. 

With a flawless start to his career through two starts, both at Laurel, the Brittany Russell trainee added black type to his résumé last time out, winning the Miracle Wood Stakes by a neck.

Looking to pick up his first win of 2026 is Maryland-bred Code of Silence. Owned by Mount Peru Farm and trained by Timothy Keefe, Code of Silence has raced his last six races at Laurel and was second in the Private Terms Stakes last time out.

Rounding out the field in the 1 1/8-mile test are Chayton, Classic Nofty, Close the Gate, Higher Sense, Hixon, Let's Go Lando, and Wild Warrior.

Entries: Federico Tesio S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, April 18, 2026, Race 11

  • STK
  • 1 1/8m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 3 yo
  • 4:49 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Hixon (MD)Jevian Toledo118Brittany T. Russell-
2Volendam (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateMychel J. Sanchez118Michael J. Maker-
3Chayton (KY)Vincent Cheminaud118William E. Morey-
4Wild Warrior (KY)Yedsit Hazlewood124Gary Capuano-
5Let's Go Lando (MD)Paco Lopez118Gary Capuano-
6Close the Gate (PA)Joseph Rocco, Jr.118John E. Salzman, Jr.-
7Classic Nofty (PA)Forest Boyce118Phil Schoenthal-
8Higher Sense (NJ)Dexter Haddock118Miguel Penaloza-
9Code of Silence (MD)Angel Cruz118Timothy L. Keefe-
10Taj Mahal (FL)Keeneland Sales GraduateSheldon Russell124Brittany T. Russell-

Also on the card is the $150,000 Weber City Miss Stakes. Gun Runner  filly Jumping the Gun is a massive 7-5 favorite in what will be her first start in her sophomore campaign. She finished first or second in each of her five career starts.

Entries: Weber City Miss S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, April 18, 2026, Race 9

  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 3:51 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Wiretapped (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateUNKNOWN118Todd A. Pletcher-
2Law School (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateYedsit Hazlewood118Jamie Ness-
3Diamond N Dress (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJose E. Vargas118W. Thomas McMahon-
4Three Sixty (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJaime A. Torres118Anthony W. Dutrow-
5Ivy Girl (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateVictor R. Carrasco124Amelia J. Green-
6Miss Fulton Gal (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateRaul E. Mena124Michael E. Gorham-
7A. P.'s Girl (KY)James Graham118Peter Eurton-
8Jumping the Gun (KY)Julio A. Hernandez118Andrew L. Simoff-
9Momaxie (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJeiron Barbosa118Jose Corrales-

In the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes, Graham Motion will saddle the Hope Jones homebred Cruise the Nile. The Cairo Prince  gelding enters the race having won three in a row, all at Gulfstream Park since debuting fourth last November at Laurel Park.

Entries: Henry S. Clark S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, April 18, 2026, Race 10

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:20 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Vote No (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateMychel J. Sanchez124Kelsey Danner-
2Naptown (ON)Keeneland Sales GraduateIsmerio Villalobos122Jose J. Magana-
3Hold Out (KY)Forest Boyce120Suzanne Stettinius-
4Bartlett (PA)Frankie Pennington122John C. Servis-
5Horsepower (KY)Edwin Gonzalez120Joseph F. Orseno-
6Sherlock's Jewel (KY)Vincent Cheminaud122Claude R. McGaughey III-
7Cruise the Nile (NJ)Jorge Ruiz122H. Graham Motion-
8Neat (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateAngel Cruz120Rob Atras-
9King Size (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJaime A. Torres124Michael Stidham-
10Mischievous Angel (KY)Paco Lopez120Jorge R. Abreu-
11Baby Max (KY)Victor R. Carrasco126Kelsey Danner-

Thirteen challengers are set for the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. All but two runners have at least 14 starts. The first choice is Doncho, who has won half of his 10 career starts. The 5-year-old Mo Town  gelding was last seen finishing seventh in the Woodford Stakes (G2T). He will be tested by 7-year-old Determined Kingdom, who has 31 starts but hasn't won since an October 2024 allowance at Keeneland. In the meantime, he has been game, including third in the 2025 Troy Stakes (G2T).

Entries: King T. Leatherbury S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, April 18, 2026, Race 8

  • STK
  • 5 1/2f
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 3:22 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Eamonn (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateEdwin Gonzalez124Joseph F. Orseno-
2Prince of Jericho (KY)Sheldon Russell124Brittany T. Russell-
3King Covee (VA)Angel Cruz120Phil Schoenthal-
4Had to Have Him (MD)Jevian Toledo124John E. Salzman, Jr.-
5Doncho (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJaime A. Torres126Michelle Lovell-
6Outlaw Kid (ON)Jorge Ruiz120George Weaver-
7Incinerator (KY)Ismerio Villalobos122Jose J. Magana-
8Chasing Liberty (KY)Angel Cruz122Rob Atras-
9Fore Harp (PA)Abner Adorno124Robert E. Reid, Jr.-
10Schwarzmeier (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJames Graham122Peter Eurton-
11Determined Kingdom (VA)Paco Lopez120Michael J. Trombetta-
12Jean Valjean (PA)Jomar Torres120Elizabeth M. Merryman-
13Whenigettoheaven (MD)Yedsit Hazlewood126Nolan Ramsey-

Tapit  mare Summerintahoe ends a seven-month hiatus by taking aim at the $100,000, 1-mile Dahlia Stakes. Owned by Tier Racing, she won her last appearance, an allowance optional claiming race Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. Pushing her Saturday will be the lightly raced Curlin's Angel. The Parkland Thoroughbreds homebred has raced just three times, with the most recent being Sept. 1 of last year at Saratoga Race Course

Entries: Dahlia S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, April 18, 2026, Race 7

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 2:52 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
1Calamity (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateAngel Cruz122Brendan P. Walsh-
2Sheila's Lion (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateSheldon Russell120J. Keith Desormeaux-
3Princess Javoncia (PA)Keeneland Sales GraduateUNKNOWN120Elizabeth M. Merryman-
4Ribaltagaia (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJorge Ruiz120H. Graham Motion-
5Summerintahoe (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJaime A. Torres120Michael Ann Ewing-
6Curlin's Angel (KY)Paco Lopez120Jorge R. Abreu-
7Storm Miami (IRE)Keeneland Sales GraduateVictor R. Carrasco124Amelia J. Green-
8Mahra's Love (IRE)Vincent Cheminaud120Michelle Nihei-
9Amie's Symphony (MD)Horacio Karamanos122Michael J. Trombetta-