BALTIMORE, 05-16-13---The undercard on Preakness Day offers more than $1 million in stakes purses with the $300,00 Longines Dixie Stakes (G2) serving as the centerpiece. Pimlico’s oldest stake, the Dixie was first run in 1870 as the Dinner Party Stakes and was won by the horse Preakness, who is the namesake of Old Hilltop’s signature race.

At 1-1/8^th miles on the grass, the Dixie has attracted a stellar 13-horse field and a host of big-time trainers, including Orb’s conditioner Shug McGaughey, a two-time Dixie winner. They agree that the lineup is a tough one.

“This sounds like a very solid race to me,” said McGaughey, who won the Dixie in 1993 with Lure and in 2009 with Parading.

“It’s going to be very competitive,” added Graham Motion, another two-time winner of the Dixie who will saddle Howe Great. Motion prevailed with Dr. Brendler in 2003 and Better Talk Now in 2006.

“When you put up that kind of money, they will come,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has Optimizer, the 7-2 favorite, and Sky Ring (12-1) ready to fire.

Returning are the 2012 runner-up, local campaigner Humble and Hungry, representing Sagamore Farm, and the third place finisher Forte Dei Marmi, who is trained by Roger Attfield.

Todd Pletcher, who won last year’s race with Hudson Steele, will send out Doubles Partner on Saturday.

McGaughey’s entry, Imagining, the 5-1 third choice, has been galloping well over the Pimlico surface since accompanying Orb from Churchill Downs and will be making his second start this year. His first outing was a 3-1/2 length score against allowance company at Keeneland.

“He ran in Canada last summer and then we had to give him some time off,” said McGaughey. “He has been doing real good.”

Motion’s Howe Great (12-1) is coming off a similar victory – at 1-1/8^th miles on Keeneland’s turf against allowance runners after “being in an awkward spot”, to finish off the board in a Grade 3 at Gulfstream Park.

Lukas pointed to Optimizer as “doing very well” after running a game second following a poor start in the Grade I Turf Classic at Churchill Downs two weeks ago. “He’s one of these horses who come back well and I’ve got the hottest rider in the country (Joel Rosario).”

The race has others who are sporting top credentials. Swift Warrior (4-1) has won two straight graded tests, Doubles Partner (6-1) consistently finishes in the money and Willcox Inn (6-1) has three in the money finishes in five graded tests since last fall.

There are three other races on the card which are graded and which have $150,000 purses.

The Maryland Sprint Handicap features 10 top sprinters, including Sage Valley (5-2), who returns from a layoff as the probable favorite. Action Andy (6-1) has on the board finishes in nine of his last 10 races, while Manito (10-1) steps into the stakes ranks off a four-race winning streak.

Out-of-towners Summer Applause and Brushed by a Star figure to be the favorites in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes with streaking locals Moon Philly and Daydreamin Gracie looking for the upset.

A pair of Chad Brown trained runners Pianist and Samitar headline the Gallorette.

Other added money races on Saturday’s 13-race card are the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes; the $100,000 James Murphy Stakes; the $75,000 Rollicking Stakes and the $40,000 Deputed Testamony. First post is 10:45 a.m.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course 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.