Laurel Park’s Saturday action includes a quartet of stakes heats on a wintry afternoon. Races 6-9 make up the main events, all around one turn for sprinters or milers during the new Heritage Meet.

Laurel Park // Race 6 // $75,000 Geisha Stakes

A big field of 11 has entered this mile for Maryland-bred fillies and mares. This race really lacks any true pace, so it will be interesting to see which jockey shows the most intent. Xavier Perez may press the gas early on #8 Mama G’s Wish (20-1 morning line), who has been a sprinter and could have a bit more brilliance early than some of these. Six of these have three or fewer career wins, so an 8-time winner like Mama G’s Wish might be in the right stakes spot, similar to #11 Mavilus (6-1 morning line), a 10-time winner and heroine of the Conniver Stakes in a similar spot here last March. They’re the early/late combo that interests me most in a very balanced betting race.

Laurel Park // Race 7 // $75,000 Jennings Stakes

Maryland-bred handicap division veterans match up over a mile with a field of 8 entered. #8 Post Time (9-5 morning line favorite) looks to be the state’s rising star performer now early in his 4-year-old campaign. His limited, 3-race campaigns in ’22 and ’23 have seen him win all 5 starts in the state and he was a very good third in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland in his only road trip and only defeat to date. Brittany Russell trains this Frosted colt, who should love the long stretch run to the second wire with his style. #4 Double Crown (3-1 morning line) makes sense underneath on the cut back from a two-turn route; he’s been more apt to get a share than win at these kind of trips.

Laurel Park // Race 8 // $100,000 What A Summer Stakes

Laurel’s most-recent event this open-company, filly & mare sprint division was December’s Willa On the Move Stakes, where Aqueduct shipper #2 Headland (2-1 morning line) invaded for a comfortable score. She’ll get more company from NYRA this time as #6 Kant Hurry Love (9-5 morning line) and #7 White Chocolate (3-1 morning line) provide the strength of this field of 9. It’s difficult to see this race getting beyond all three of those New Yorkers. Kant Hurry Love ran past Headland in the 6-furlong Garland of Roses at Aqueduct and comes into this race fresher as her rival since traveled here for the Willa On the Move. Freshness often matters in sprints as a positive, so I’ll take that over the track experience Headland gained. Plus, Headland should be entangled early with White Chocolate and help set the table for Kant Hurry Love. This race will serve as a prep for next month’s prestigious Barbara Fritchie Stakes.

Laurel Park // Race 9 // $100,000 Fire Plug Stakes

Open-company sprinters dash 6-1/2 furlongs in the key local prep toward next month’s General George Stakes. Eleven are entered without a standout, witnessed by the 4-1 morning line favorite being ageless 10-year-old #10 Greeley and Ben. When he won the Dave’s Friend Stakes here in December, the race came back to all of the closers. The way to reverse that result would be an infusion of quality early speed and we get that with #2 Brother Conway (6-1 morning line). Brother Conway steps up in class while on a roll for high percentage trainer Kieron Magee, winning four in a row and finishing in seven straight exactas. The 6-1/2 furlong distance will be some question off his recent dashes, but he’s got a speed jockey, a speed post and loves Laurel; that removes a lot of the variables of the race. See how far he can take them for the money.