The race was first contested in 1997 and first achieved graded status in 2008. Motion has won it eight times, including three times since it became a Grade 3. Saturday, though, he’ll send out a pair in an effort to snap a dry spell; his last Dick Memorial win came in 2017 with Guilty Twelve.

He has entered Chervenell Thoroughbreds Frivole and Madaket Stables and Bill Strauss’ Sopran Basilea.  Both had impressive efforts in making North American debuts in last race after solid European campaigns. The former is 10-1 on the morning line and will leave from post five with Vincent Cheminaud up, while the latter, in the seventh post, will have Jorge Ruiz in the irons and is 6-1 on the morning line.

“They both worked together this morning (Monday),” said trainer H. Graham Motion.  “I thought they went well.”

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In her only outing this year, Frivole posted a 2 ½-length triumph in mile and three-eighths turf allowance at Churchill Downs on May 18.  Last year, the 4-year-old daughter of Anodin had a record of a win, four seconds and two thirds while racing in France.

“Obviously, I did not know Frivole could be this kind of horse, but I thought she won pretty impressively at Churchill,” Motion said.  “We were rolling the dice a little bit going a mile and three-eighths.  I thought she could handle it, but I was not sure, so it kind of was a little bit of an experiment.  After she did it so nicely, I thought this was a great spot for her.”  

Sopran Basilea finished second, beaten 2 ½ lengths by Whitebeam, in the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3 Gallorette over the Pimlico turf course on May 20 in her 2023 debut. In 2021 and 2022, the 5-year-old daughter of Night of Thunder compiled a record of five wins, five seconds and a third from 15 starts including two victories and three seconds in Group 2 & 3 races mostly at distances going a mile and a quarter or longer in Italy.

“I was a little surprised how well she ran on Preakness Day because I knew the race was going to be short for her, but I was anxious to her started,” Motion said.  “I thought she ran extremely well.  Running long is obviously what she wants to do.  She is kind of proven at these distances.  But the timing and her effort in the Gallorette should set her up perfectly for this race.” 

Motion’s prior wins in the Dick Memorial came with Guilty Twelve (2017), Real Smart (2016), Caprice (2009), Rosinka (2007), Alternate (2003 and 2004), New Economy (2002) and Bursting Forth (1999).

Miss Yearwood has been installed as the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s renewal In her most recent, the 4-year-old daughter of Will Take Charge, posted a length triumph in the 1 ½-mile $225,000 Keertana Stakes over the Churchill Downs turf course on May 27.  Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Ian Wilkes won an allowance at the same distance at Keeneland on April 26.  She has a career record of four wins, two seconds and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings $438,780. 

Miss Yearwood will be ridden by Chris Landeros.  The trainer/jockey tandem of Wilkes and Landeros has teamed up to win the Robert G. Dick twice, with Gentle Ruler scoring in both 2019 and 2020.  

Other trainers with prior Dick Memorial wins who have runners Saturday include two-time winner Christophe Clement, who has entered Parnac (8-1) and Ever Summer (12-1), and 2018 winner Lynn Ashby, slated to saddle 20-1 longshot Inanna’s Quest.