Laurel Park: How to bet the 2023 Federico Tesio Stakes

Laurel Park (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club)

April 13th, 2023

A well-matched field of nine sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Laurel Park dirt oval in Saturday’s $125,000 Federico Tesio S. The winner of the contest, if Triple Crown nominated, will receive an automatic berth into the Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico on May 20.

Conditioner Brittany Russell has a pair of live contenders in the heat, including the consistently good #9 Prince of Jericho. By Munnings, the Kentucky-bred has never run a bad one in his lifetime and I feel that he will be up to the task while making his two-turn debut on this occasion.

The colt finished a clear runner-up in the Miracle Wood S. on the surface last time out in his debut at eight furlongs, and slight improvement will find him right there late with Sheldon Russell in the stirrups. He drew widest of all which is something of a concern, but I anticipate that the three-year-old will receive a good stalking trip while racing in the clear throughout.

PRINCE OF JERICHO and Carol Cedeno widen in the stretch to win the Spectacular Bid Stakes at @LaurelPark! Congrats to Morris Bailey & Mike Dubb and our team! pic.twitter.com/JTWcpYRthi
— Brittany Russell Racing Stable (@BTRracingstable) January 21, 2023

#4 Circling the Drain, also from the Russell shedrow, finished third following a slow break in the Private Terms S. while equipped with blinkers for the initial time and is eligible to improve in his second while wearing the hood. The gelded son of West Coast has an affinity for the surface while winning or placing in each of his five local assignments at Laurel to date, and the bay is bred to excel at the 1 1/8-mile distance, as well. Jevian Toledo has the assignment and will likely have the win candidate tracking the tempo from the second flight in the early stages of the tilt.

#6 Summer Cause has appeal despite making the big class rise from the maiden ranks for conditioner Christophe Clement. The bay son of Summer Front graduated at nine panels at Gulfstream Park in his latest endeavor and has trained well leading up to his stakes debut, as well. Consistent bay has faced some solid runners in his career and wouldn’t be a total surprise with Victor Carrasco in the irons.