LAUREL, MD. 12-06-12---Two New York shippers are among the favorites to win the $100,000 City Of Laurel Stakes for three-year-olds on Saturday at Laurel Park. The seven-furlong test drew eight runners.

Trainer Chad Brown is sending stakes winner Hardened Wildcat from his Belmont Park base. Bob Baffert counters with Brigand, a tested member of his New York string.

Hardened Wildcat (7-5) has won three of six this year including a victory in the Fred Capossela Stakes. The son of Hard Spun was also second in the Bay Shore (G3), third in the You and I Stakes and fourth in the Woody Stephens (G2). Hardened Wildcat has not started since June 9. Sheldon Russell picks up the mount.

Brigand (3-1) is a New York-bred son of Flatter whose best stakes efforts are runner-up finishes in the Hollywood Juvenile (G3), the Jerome (G2) and the Mike Lee Stakes. Abel Castellano, Laurel’s leading rider, will be aboard.

Service for Ten (9-2) was claimed by trainer Damon Dilodovicio last year. He rewarded his new connections with two wins and a second in three starts and comes into the City Of Laurel Stakes on a two-race win streak. Julian Pimentel will be in the saddle.

“There was a stakes at Aqueduct ($75,000 Queens County) this weekend and I was hoping that would have kept Baffert and Chad up there,” Dilodovico said. “We ran him (Service for Ten) once last year and then gave him some time off. We thought he was a little under developed. Since returning, he has done everything right. He is an easy gallop in the morning, comes over here in the afternoon and goes to work. He has been forwardly placed in his last two starts but we have in our mind we can sit if we have to. This is a big step up. I feel he is still a little green. Numbers wise he fits but we have been doing it against lesser company.”

Javerre (8-1) won the New Jersey Breeders Handicap at Monmouth Park and finished second in the Maryland Million Sprint in his last two starts. The Outflanker offspring is four for six lifetime. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount for trainer Cathal Lynch.

Maryland-bred Bellefire (10-1) ships to Laurel from Florida after breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs and then winning three races at Calder Race Course. His best stakes efforts were third place finishes in both the El Kaiser and Naked Greed Stakes. Leo Azpurua trains the Proud Citizen colt and Manoel Cruz is his rider.

Pretension (12-1) won the Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in May and then finished 11^th in the Preakness Stakes (G1). The Chris Grove trainee has raced just once since then but did work a half-mile bullet at the Bowie Training Center on Dec. 1 for this start.

Lucy’s Bob Boy (15-1) has captured three stakes races at Charles Town this year, including the West Virginia Breeders Classic.

Bayou Bengal (20-1) won an allowance race here on Nov. 14 with a career-best 75 Beyer Speed figure.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.