A return to firmer footing may be just what Trikari needs as he headlines Saturday’s $125,000 Prince George’s County Stakes at Laurel Park. The 1 1/8-mile turf event for older horses marks the 4-year-old colt’s third start of the year, and trainer Graham Motion is hoping it’s the one that gets his Grade 1 winner back on track.

Trikari arrives at Laurel with a résumé that far outshines his expected rivals. A son of Oscar Performance, he broke through last summer with a gutsy score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, where he edged clear after a prolonged stretch battle, and then won the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs.

He returned to the races this spring with a promising third in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland, showing late interest despite the cutback in distance.

But his most recent outing, a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness weekend, left connections frustrated.

“I wish I had scratched him,” Motion admitted. “I was worried about the turf after I ran a couple earlier in the day, and they didn’t handle it. I think it was beyond soft. It was ground that we don’t ever run on.”

Trikari loomed into contention on the far turn that day before fading rapidly, ultimately beaten more than 14 lengths. Motion believes the poor effort was a direct result of the soggy turf course and remains confident in his colt’s form.

“I needed to find a race to get him back on track,” he said. “The [Maker’s Mark] was respectable, the last race was a disaster. He trains very well, so I have every confidence that he can get back to himself.”

Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez will be aboard once again as Trikari seeks his sixth win from 13 starts for owner Amerman Racing LLC. He has earned over $1.3 million in his career and will break from post 2 as the likely favorite.

Trikari is 2-1 on the morning line.

Among those looking to take advantage if Trikari falters is Siege of Boston (3-1), a consistent veteran who has been in the money in 15 of 21 career starts but hasn’t visited the winner’s circle in more than two years. Crystal Quest (4-1), a multiple stakes winner in Florida-bred company for trainer Mike Trombetta, is also in with a chance off a solid fifth-place try in the Grade 3 Dinner Party on the same challenging Pimlico turf.

Kingmax (6-1), idle since March 2024, could be a wild card if he returns to form for trainer Jorge Delgado. His past graded stakes placings suggest he fits with this group if ready. Wolfie’s Dynaghost (10-1), a 10-time winner with success on multiple surfaces, adds depth to the field for Jonathan Thomas, while Summer Cause (9-2) may be sneaky off a sharp return win at Tampa in April that marked his first career turf try.

Longshot Omni King (15-1) and main-track-only runner Passioned (9-5) round out the field.

The PG County is carded as the 10^th race on a 12-race program that kicks off at 12:05. The day features the 34^th running of the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.

In two other undercard stakes: multiple graded stakes winner Post Time (2-5 morning line), last year’s Top Midlantic-bred and Maryland-bred champion, is expected to be an overwhelming favorite in the $125,000 Deputed Testamony.

In the $125,000 Alma North for sprinting fillies and mares, Mystic Lake is the 7-5 morning line favorite but likely to scratch because horses at Saratoga are currently barred from Laurel after an outbreak of strangles at the upstate New York track. Grade 2 Davona Dale winner Fiona’s Magic, off since May 2024, offers an intriguing play with a 6-1 morning line for trainer Ned Allard.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY STAKES ENTRIES