Afleet Willy tries to last nine furlongs

Bodhisattva has little, if any, early foot. Matt King Coal has two-turn speed. But Afleet Willy is the quickest runner in the 1 1/8-mile Harrison Johnson Memorial at Laurel Park on Saturday, and trainer Claudio Gonzalez plans to make good use of his tactical advantage.

The question is, can Afleet Willy, a sprinter for much of his career, go nine furlongs?

“He’s won at a mile and a sixteenth,” said Gonzalez, who leads the Laurel standings by four wins coming into the weekend. “If he breaks good and makes the lead easy, I think he can win.”

The $75,000 Johnson is one of five stakes at Laurel on Saturday and closes out the card, the pick five with a 12 percent takeout, and the Rainbow 6.

Gonzalez claimed Afleet Willy for $25,000 out a maiden win in his final start at 2 in 2015. He has since won six races with him.

Strictly a sprinter in his early days, Afleet Willy has shown the ability to handle middle distances as he has matured. He came into his last start, the Grade 3 General George, in the best form of his career, with consecutive victories at a mile, 1 1/16 miles, and seven furlongs.

Things didn’t go his way in the seven-furlong General George. He bobbled at the start from post 1, moved up to prompt the pace inside eventual winner Imperial Hint, and then tired in the stretch to finish sixth.

“The inside is really tough for a horse like him,” Gonzalez said. “You have to send him a little bit, but if you don’t make the lead, you can get trapped down there.”

Matt King Coal is trained in New York by Linda Rice, who is 9 for 21 at the Laurel meet. Matt King Coal is coming off a frontrunning 4 1/4-length victory at Laurel over second-level optional-claiming company. He should be closest to Afleet Willy early and in a good position to strike.

Bodhisattva, a deep closer, is in top form but may not benefit from the anticipated pace of this race. Then again, he was so strong in winning the John B. Campbell Stakes last out that it might not matter.

◗ Sonny Inspired won the $75,000 Not For Love, a sixfurlong stakes for older Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired runners, a year ago, when it was named the Ben’s Cat. He comes into this year’s edition off an overnight handicap victory at Charles Town for trainer Phil Schoenthal and figures to be a top contender once again.

Favoritism in the eight-horse field could go to Stolen Love, a 7-year-old gelding who has won two second-level optionalclaiming races in a row. Claimed for $20,000 by Gonzalez in 2014, Stolen Love was 1 for 13 last year but is 2 for 4 in 2017.

“He is doing very good. He’s like a new horse,” Gonzalez said, “and he loves Laurel.”

◗ Bawlmer Hon is the horse to beat in the $75,000 Conniver, a seven-furlong stakes for older Maryland-bred or Marylandsired fillies and mares.

Trained by Mark Shuman, Bawlmer Hon was second to Winter last out in the open Maryland Racing Media Stakes on Barbara Fritchie Day in February. Winter has won four of five starts, including a pair of stakes, since last October.

Bawlmer Hon has good early speed and will be cutting back in distance from 1 1/16 miles.