Laurel Dash, Sensible Lady draw contentious fields
Familiar names Witty, Mopo among headliners
The Biz
September 11, 2026
Popular Pennsylvania-bred millionaire Witty returns to a Laurel Park turf course over which he’s finished first or second in five of six outings in Saturday’s $100,000 Laurel Dash, a six-furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and up.
The Dash is one of two stakes on the Saturday card and is joined by the Sensible Lady Turf Dash, a six-furlong test for fillies and mares.
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Witty achieved millionaire status with his win in the June 20 Ben’s Cat over the surface. Excluded from that contest in 2024 and 2025 after winning it in 2023, Witty drew in this year and bested Had to Have Him by a half-length.
Witty, trained by Elizabeth Merryman, is 4-1 on the morning line and will carry jockey Jaime Rodriguez.
Live Oak Plantation’s Victory Achieved is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Dash.
Victory Achieved is a 5-year-old Street Sense gelding trained by Mark Casse. He has been knocking on the door this year, winning a Gulfstream allowance May 30 before finishing second in the Karl Boyes Stakes and Colonial’s Van Clief Stakes.
“He’s had a few little things along the way, but he’s come back this year and run very consistently,” Casse said. “He looks like he should be fairly tough.”
Sonny Leon rides.
Also prominent are Senbei, a Grade 3 winner making his first start since October; Graham Motion-trained Isivunguvungu, a two-time Group 1 winner in South Africa who won a Laurel allowance in June; and Ned Allard trainees Alogon and Card Trick.
Alogon won the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint last year and was seventh in the Van Clief after a troubled trip. Card Trick was fifth in that race.
Bold Diversion and Alder complete the expected field.
The Laurel Dash shares Saturday’s top billing with the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash for fillies and mares.
Mopo Racing’s Mopo is the 3-1 morning-line favorite after winning the Jameela Stakes in June, finishing second in Monmouth’s Incredible Revenge Stakes and returning to the winner’s circle in a Delaware Park allowance. Forest Boyce rides for trainer Phil Capuano.
“She’s always been game,” Capuano said after the Jameela. “Even when she broke her maiden at Pimlico last year, she got passed, but she digs in and finds another gear. She’s tough.”
Somnium, a 4-year-old Street Boss filly trained by Merryman, is another major player. A half-sister to Witty and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, Somnium won at Laurel June 12 and was second in Colonial’s Andy Guest Stakes. Jevian Toledo gets the call from the rail.
Other contenders include Gerrards Cross, a multiple stakes winner who was third in Saratoga’s Galway Stakes last out; Le Amazonia, who has hit the board in 12 of 15 starts; Casse trainee Minty, a Colonial allowance winner; and Grade 3 winner Les Reys.
Gates open at 11 a.m., with first post at noon. The card includes two Value Pick 5 wagers, each carrying a 12 percent takeout.
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