“It was the first time she’d won a stakes race. We always think this is a great spot for her first time back off the layoff,” trainer Edward Graham said. “She’s good. She gets every winter off and she’s come back good and we’re happy with her. We’re excited to see what she’ll do this year.”

Deciding Vote had one win from five subsequent starts following the Dahlia, that coming in the Salvatore DeBunda PTHA President’s Cup at Parx, rained off the grass to the main track. Her half-length victory clinched both her the filly and mare-long turf division title and overall MATCH Series championship.

“I was kind of just going in there because it was the MATCH Series and we were just kind of taking a shot because she had an opportunity to win the filly division, so that was a surprising win,” Graham said. “She won the [whole] MATCH Series, so that was a good day. The older she gets I think the better she gets.”

Victor Carrasco is named to ride from Post 5 in a field of 10.

“I’ve had her since she was 2 years old so I know when she’s doing well. She just kind of lets me know,” Graham said. “I think she’s doing really well. I’m happy with her, just the way she’s training and the way she’s acting. They let you know what’s going on. It’s time to get her started.”

Deciding Vote’s victory last year came over In a Hurry, a Grade 3-placed mare that would go on to win the 2022 All Along at Laurel. In a Hurry was trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, whose Vigilantes Way ran third in the 2021 Dahlia two starts before capturing the Eatontown (G3).

McGaughey will be represented for a third straight year in the Dahlia, this time with Phipps Stable homebred Surprisingly. The Mastery filly rallied from next-to-last to win the 1 1/16-mile Endeavour (G3) by a neck Feb. 4 in her 4-year-old debut at Tampa Bay Downs where she was third, beaten 1 ½ lengths, in the 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough (G2) last time out March 11.

“She’s been very good,” McGaughey said. “I thought the race she ran at Tampa where she won was really good, and she showed us a little bit of what she wanted. When we ran her back she kind of got hung down on the inside a little bit. [Jockey] Paco [Lopez] said he tried to get her out, but he couldn’t. It was a pretty solid group. I’m looking forward to getting her down to Laurel, running her and then seeing what the summer brings.”

Surprisingly, slated to have Paco Lopez in the irons, is the 8-5 morning line favorite. Deciding Vote is 8-1 on the morning line.