The stakes on Saturday's Preakness Day undercard at Pimlico are a mixed bag of competitive heats and others with apparent stickouts.

One of the more contentious stakes is the $250,000 Dinner Party (G3) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, which immediately precedes the Preakness (G1). Reigning titlist Balnikhov took advantage of a very soft course to win the Dinner Party 12 months ago, but faces a deeper cast this time and perhaps without that kind of ground in his favor.

Trikari, winner last season of the Belmont Derby (G1) and American Turf (G2), is the likely Dinner Party favorite after opening his season account with a respectable third to Carl Spackler in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland. 

"Hopefully it gives him a little bit of a class relief," trainer Graham Motion said of Trikari's Dinner Party placement. "He's run in three really tough spots his past three races."

Multiple graded winners Fort Washington and Neat are others of note in the field of 13.

The $125,000 Skipat S. for fillies and mares at six furlongs has come up unusually strong, with defending titlist Apple Picker in a tough spot facing graded veterans Zeitlos and One Magic Philly. Stakes newcomer Striker Has Dial also merits a look off back-to-back allowance wins at Aqueduct.

Way to Be Marie and the Graham Motion-trained pair of Sparkle Blue and Queen of the Mud are among the logical threats in the $150,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf., while the similarly wide-open $150,000 Chick Lang (G3) for three-year-olds at six furlongs on the main track has attracted a larger field of 11. There is no standout in the $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint over five furlongs, in which Coppola, No Nay Hudson, Determined Kingdom, Fore Harp, and Witty figure to attract the bulk of support.

In contrast to the above stakes, Booth will be expected to dominate the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) over six furlongs following a trio of stakes wins at Oaklawn. Likewise, Reagan's Wit appears to enjoy a slight class edge heading into the $100,000 James W. Murphy S., a one-mile grass test for three-year-olds.

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