Volendam, Taj Mahal to Clash in Tesio Stakes

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. 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. 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. 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). 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.