Saturday’s $250,000 Dinner Party Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park is one of the oldest stakes races in the United States. Inaugurated in 1870 at Pimlico Race Course in the track’s first season, it was named after the 1868 Saratoga dinner party hosted by Maryland Governor Oden Bowie that led to Pimlico’s creation.
The inaugural winner was Preakness, whose name later inspired the Preakness Stakes (G1). Historically known for decades as the Dixie Stakes (or Dixie Handicap), it has been won by an impressive roster of champions and Hall of Famers, including Preakness (1870), Tom Ochiltree (1875), Duke of Magenta (1878), Sarazen (1925-26), Whirlaway (1942), Assault (1947), Armed (1946), Fort Marcy (1970), Bowl Game (1978), Sky Classic (1992), and Paradise Creek (1994).
The race was downgraded to Grade 3 status in 2023 and, with Pimlico being rebuilt, moves to Laurel Park for this year’s renewal [it can be switched to the main track at the same distance if the turf is unsuitable].
This year’s field of seven is led by Dresden Row (7-5), and the 5-year-old Lord Nelson horse is a three-time graded stakes winner who returned from a five-month layoff with a sharp, 2 ¾-length allowance victory at Keeneland last month.
It was his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher and only his second in the U.S. after being sold to his new connections for $500,000 through Fasig-Tipton’s digital sale in January.
“He had a very successful career up in Canada, and we were fortunate enough to pick him up after he was sold in the digital sale,” Pletcher said. “He has been a very straightforward horse and likes to train. He trained well up to his comeback, and I thought he handled that nicely at Keeneland, so we thought we would take a look at this.”
He has shown versatility and class, often stalking or pressing the pace before producing a strong finish. His recent form suggests he’s ready to fire fresh at a trip and surface that suit him well, making him the one to beat if he replicates that effort. Flavien Prat rides.
Cruise the Nile (9-5) is a lightly raced 4-year-old gelding who has been unbeatable in four starts since switching to synthetic and turf. He most recently closed from off the pace to win the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel [a mile on firm turf in mid-April with a strong 100 Equibase speed figure]. A confirmed closer/stalker who excels around a mile to 1 1/16 miles on turf, his progressive figures and local course preference give him a big shot in his graded-stakes debut, especially if the pace is honest. Jorge Ruiz rides for H. Graham Motion.
Fort Washington (7-2) is the defending champion who captured last year’s running at Pimlico. This veteran 7-year-old gelding by War Front is a multiple graded winner who also took the 2025 Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs with a thrilling rally from last to first and also the Canadian Turf (G3) back in February.
The Shug McGaughey trainee has high-class turf form at 1 1/8 miles and beyond, typically racing mid-pack or from off the pace before unleashing a powerful late kick (peak figures in the 130s).
“He’s a very nice horse,” McGaughey said. “He’s won some races, and he won one big race, and hopefully we’ll be on the road to some others.”
Recent efforts include a fourth in the Canadian Turf (G3) and sixth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), but his proven stakes quality at this exact distance and surface makes him dangerous if he returns to top form.
“He ran down at Kentucky Downs, and he didn’t run very well, so I just decided to pull the plug on him and gave him some time,” McGaughey said. “I ended up giving him more time than I originally thought, but he was just turned out and playing. Then we brought him back, and with the Pegasus in mind. He ran a good race in the Pegasus. He just had an outside post that hurt him. He wasn’t beaten far.”
Junior Alvarado has the call.
The 4-year-old Bernardini colt A Bourbon for Toby (12-1) steps up from allowance/optional claiming company. He figures to be a forwardly placed or mid-pack runner with some tactical speed, but will need a career-best effort to contend with the top trio’s graded stakes experience. Tom Morley tapped Irad Ortiz, Jr. to ride.
Saffie Joseph, Jr. will tighten the girth on Harrow (12-1), an 8-year-old veteran gelding by Lea, who brings plenty of seasoning and has shown consistency in lower-level turf routes at Laurel and elsewhere, typically stalking the pace. However, he lacks recent big-money wins against this class and will likely need the top contenders to underperform. He will carry jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
What Say Thee (15-1) is an 8-year-old battle-hardened veteran who has competed in numerous turf allowances and stakes over the years, often racing mid-pack or closing. His best recent efforts have come against lesser company, and the jump to graded stakes here looks ambitious despite the rail draw.
Thundering (15-1), a 4-year-old Maryland-bred gelding, is the most lightly accomplished of the bunch and has been competitive in local non-graded turf events, typically employing a stalk-and-pounce style. He’ll need everything to go his way and a sharp peak performance to upset the favorites in this spot.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
