Federico Tesio Stakes picks at Laurel Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026. This a win and you’re in for the Preakness.
LRL 11 (Federico Tesio, 3yo, 9f) – Post Time 5:05 PM ET
Primary – #4 WILD WARRIOR, #10 Taj Mahal
Secondary – #2 Volendam, #5 Let’s Go Lando, #6 Close the Gate, #9 Code of Silence
Horse Comments:
#4 Wild Warrior (6-1) stretched back out and stalked the pace and surged late to win the Private Perms at 1 1/16 miles March 21 and galloped out with energy. I like his tactical speed and middle post, and Yedsit Hazlewood guided him home twice at LRL at a mile and a sixteenth. He should be lurking behind the speed and should be in the think of it turning for home. He fired a one mile bullet one week before winning the Private Terms, and he drilled a local flat mile bullet for this April 11.
#10 Taj Mahal (7-2) was 3-2 in his local sprint bow Feb. 6 and he broke slow and rallied wide to win by 4 1/4 lengths (show finisher next-out winner). He was 2-1 in the Miracle Wood in the mud second time out and set the pace, met challenges, and prevailed by a neck. Team Russell’s $525k purchase sports back-to-back local bullets for this and should be forwardly placed from the outside post.
#2 Volendam (3-1) was the favorite in his all-weather sprint bow at TP March 21 and he stalked and scored by 2 lengths. They paid $600k for the Vekoma colt and he stretches out and switches surfaces for Michael Maker.
#5 Let’s Go Lando (5-1) ran well in his last six starts. He stalked wide from the outside post and graduated by 8+ lengths as the favorite in a local MSW affair at 1 1/16 miles in November. He was a wide 3rd of 4 at a mile and a sixteenth in December, and he cut back to a mile and rolled to a big win from off the pace Jan. 10. He stepped up to face stakes foes in the Miracle Wood at one mile Feb. 21 and he stalked front running winner Taj Mahal and missed by a neck. He was third by a length in the Private Terms and always runs his race at LRL (7 2-2-3).
#6 Close the Gate (10-1) rallied from far back to finish second in his local 5.5f bow, and he stalked from an outer post and ran away by 9+ lengths in a local MSW affair at 5.5f Jan. 10. He was 5-1 in the Spectacular Bid at seven panels Feb. 4 and he stalked from the outside post, led, and landed the place. He was an even third in the Miracle Wood in February and a close third in a flat mile race at CNL in March.
#9 Code of Silence (5-1) rallied for the place in his MSW bow at 10-1 odds. He closed to finish a clear third in a stakes sprint at DEL second time out and winner Probably Dreaming clicked right back in the Rocky Run. This one had early trouble and ended up 6th of 13 in the Maryland Million Nursery on Oct. 11, and he added blinkers, returned to the maiden ranks, and went last-to-first as the favorite Nov. 16 (runner-up next-out winner). He was my top choice in the Maryland Juvenile at seven panels on Dec. 6 and he rallied to win by a neck as the favorite. He rallied for the show at one mile in the slop Jan. 10, and he closed from the back of the pack to pick up the show in the Spectacular Bid. He stalked, led, and missed by a neck in the Private Terms last time.
Wagers:
#4 to win
Exacta 4/2-10
Exacta 2-10/4
Trifecta 4-10/2-4-5-6-9-10/5-6
