Spencerian, the lukewarm 3-1 favorite, headlines a deep field of Maryland-restricted fillies and mares in the $75,000 Conniver Stakes Saturday at Laurel Park. The field includes five stakes winners.

Trained by Hugh McMahon, the 5-year-old Irish War Cry mare has proven to be a rewarding claim, winning half of her ten starts since being acquired for $16,000 in 2023 by owner Larry Rabold.

Spencerian showcased her talent with a victory in the Politely Stakes on December 21 against state-bred competition. She followed up with a third-place finish in the What a Summer Stakes, maintaining her consistent form since returning to the races.

McMahon claimed Spencerian in September 2023 and ran her three times before giving her a break from October 2023 to August 2024. Of the decision to claim her, McMahon stated, “I just thought she was kind of at that level, but it was reasonable for us to claim because she had conditions, Maryland-bred. And that was that.”

The time off proved beneficial, as Spencerian has won four of her seven starts since returning and finished third in the other three. “We sent her away just for rest, and she got good. We didn’t do any real diagnostics, but we kind of thought it was a fractured hip,” McMahon added.

Spencerian faces a formidable challenge in a ten-horse field, including Call Another Play, a resilient competitor who nearly retired before springing a 15-1 upset in the Geisha Stakes on January 18. Assistant trainer Tana Aubrey, who works with trainer Michael Trombetta, reflected on Call Another Play’s unexpected return to top form: “After her last race, we were considering retiring her. But then we wanted to try her one more time, which was [in the Geisha].”

Call Another Play boasts an impressive resume, having won the Weber City Miss Stakes last spring before finishing third in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and a close fourth in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. She was bred in Maryland by the late R. Larry Johnson, who passed away on February 4, and was owned by him until his passing.

Other stakes winners in the field include Gold Digging Broad (12-1), Malibu Moonshine (20-1), and Bourbon Bon Bay (8-1). Intrepid Dream is expected to scratch. Post time for the afternoon’s card at Laurel Park is 12:10 p.m. The Conniver is the seventh race on a nine-race program.