The field for the Schaefer, with odds, jockey, and weight, from the rail: 1) Waited, 5-1 (Mark Johnston, 114). 2) Mercaldo, 8-1 (Pat Day, 109). 3) Notably Frosty, 7-2 (Ramon Dominguez, 113). 4) Memory Tap, 4-1 (Mario Pino, 111). 5) Inner Harbour, 12-1 (no rider, 112). 6) Judge's Case, 9-2 (Rick Wilson, 112). 7) Grundlefoot, 8-1 (Travis Dunkelberger, 114). 8) Perfect Cat, 8-1 (Jerry Bailey, 115). 9) Rize, 10-1 (Jorge Chavez, 115).
A couple promising stakes-placed horses hope to become stakes winners after the $100,000 William Donald Schaefer Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Saturday. Notably Frosty, second in Pimlico's Lexington Park Claiming Stakes on April 29, and Perfect Cat, second in Keeneland's Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) on April 27 are among the nine colts, horses, and geldings contesting the nine-furlong Schaefer.John Alecci purchased Notably Frosty from his breeder early this year, and has had the horse in Maryland ever since. Alecci owns and trains the son of Alaskan Frost, who is also the morning line favorite at 7-2. Perfect Cat is coming in from Mark Hennig's Belmont base and races for breeder Edward Evans. He has placed in all four of his starts so far this year and is at 4-1. The Ben Ali was also run at nine furlongs while the Lexington Park was run at 8 1/2 furlongs.
