High Paf, owned by Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso, steps up after two late-running wins at Laurel Park. All the way up into the Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Preakness for three-year-old fillies.

The six-furlong test is the 10th race on a 14-race program that includes the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and Grade 3 Pimlico Special.

High Paf, a McKinzie filly, is lightly built but gutsy, and trainer Brittany Russell has long seen her potential.

“She is very difficult mentally but has a lot of ability,” Russell said. “We have always liked this filly and she’s always been a very good work horse. There’s not much to her; she’s small, but she found two ways to win. I know this is a big step, but I think she’s up for it. She’s kind of a bad gate horse. We’ve done some work with her in the morning, but you just pray that she leaves there clean.”

She won her debut by a nose at Laurel Park Feb. 22 and followed up with another hard-fought win March 28 at the same track, defeating 2024 Maryland Million Lassie winner Shkhara Fire by a neck.

Sheldon Russell has the return mount. High Paf is 12-1 on the morning line.

Family enters Friday’s Grade 3 Miss Preakness as a promising but untested dirt runner. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the filly has yet to race on the surface, but her pedigree offers encouragement. Her sire, Sharp Azteca, earned a 115 Beyer winning the Cigar Mile (G1), while her dam, Heidi Maria, won two dirt stakes. A half-sister, Vegas Magic, captured the Sorrento (G2) at Del Mar.

Debuting at Turfway Park for Michelle Elliott, Family won first out at 27-1. She then was narrowly beaten in the Serena’s Song. Now in Joseph’s barn, she prepped with a strong May 9 breeze at Palm Meadows, going five furlongs in 1:00 flat and finishing a neck ahead of open-length debut winner Tentacion before galloping out well clear.

She is 6-1 morning line and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

MISS PREAKNESS FIELD