An intriguing mix of local horses, shippers, and even a first-timer will line up Thursday at Delaware Park for the $75,000 Blue Hen Stakes, a six-furlong test on the dirt for 2-year-old fillies.

The Blue Hen Stakes, carded as the fifth race, is joined on the card by the $75,000 Dover Stakes for two-year-olds.

Trainer Michael Maker sends out the likely Blue Hen favorite in Lilies N Paradise (post 2), who earned a nice debut win at Churchill Downs in June before finishing fifth in the $225,000 Debutante. The daughter of Maxfield, owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and Case Chambers, gets leading rider Jaime Rodriguez up in search of her first stakes victory.

Maker’s filly will have to contend with a flashy local in Jumping the Gun (post 7), a homebred by Gun Runner for Imaginary Stables who used a stalking trip to win her July 3 debut at Delaware Park. Trained by Andrew Simoff, she overcame Techstar (post 5) by 1 1/2 lengths that day, and the pair meet again here. Techstar, trained by Orlando Rose, showed good early speed in that race and could be sharper in her second start.

Another to watch is Thirst for Hope (post 8), who romped by 5 3/4 lengths in a Colonial Downs maiden claimer for trainer Lynn Ashby, one of three entrants for her in the two stakes. The Maryland-bred daughter of Hoppertunity has already placed in two starts and owns the kind of late kick that could prove dangerous if the early pace is hot.

Two unbeaten West Virginia-breds from Anthony Farrior’s barn add intrigue. Blames Honey (post 1) rallied from a slow start to score on debut at Charles Town, while Edy’s Flame (post 4) circled four-wide to win her first start by 2 3/4 lengths. Farrior also saddles Sassy Fox (post 6), a 7 1/4-length debut winner in maiden claiming company at Colonial Downs, who drew away smartly.

Rounding out the field is first-time starter Lunar Buzz (post 3), trained by James Lawrence II for Norman Stables. The Vino Rosso filly is a half-sister to two debut winners, as well as a 2-year-old stakes victor, and could prove dangerous despite her lack of experience.

The speed appears mostly to be on the outside, which may force the inside horses’ hands as they try to avoid getting buried in traffic. This race also serves as a local prep for the October 11 White Clay Creek contested at one mile.