Patriotism was in fashion in a pair of three-year-old stakes offering a free spot in the Preakness this weekend, while a local hopeful earned a spot but did not commit.

Laurel Park’s Federico Tesio Stakes, Hawthorne’s Illinois Derby, and Oaklawn Park’s Bathhouse Row Stakes all offered the winners free spots in the Triple Crown’s Middle Jewel, provided that the runners are Triple Crown-nominated.

Tesio winner Copper Tax had to overcome a deeply troubled trip to run down Speedyness late to win by three parts of a length. Elsewhere, Patriot Spirit (Illinois Derby) and Informed Patriot (Bathhouse Row) earned their spots, as well.

Will they come?

Copper Tax’s connections were on the fence in the immediate aftermath of the Tesio. Though his effort Saturday was a strong one, his two prior forays into company tougher than the local stakes haven’t gone well. He was well up the track in both the Grade 2 Remsen, in December, and Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

“I don’t know, that’s a stretch,” winning trainer Gary Capuano said of the Preakness. “We’ll see. We’ll see how he comes out. And, you know, like I said before, he’s not a big horse. We’ll make that decision in a week or two.”

Though his connections believe the son of Copper Bullet had excuses in those two graded tries, they also are realistic about the depth of the waters in a race like the Grade 1 Preakness.

“We just have to look at what the field has to offer in that race and does our horse have a legitimate chance at doing well. The big thing is the psychology of it. Just like any of us, do we have a reasonable chance at doing well in a race?” owner Chris Loso told track publicity. “Just to put a horse in a race for the sake of putting a horse in a race because it’s the Preakness, to me is not a wise decision.”

In Saturday’s Bathhouse Row, Informed Patriot pressed the early pace, opened a lead in mid-stretch, and then held on to win by a head in 1:51.48 for nine furlongs under jockey Ricardo Santana. It was the second win in eight career outings for the Hard Spun colt, who is trained by Steve Asmussen for Kirk and Judy Robison.

Afterwards, Asmussen was noncommittal about the colt’s next start. He won the Bathhouse Row last year with Red Route One, who then finished fourth in the Preakness.

On Sunday, Patriot Spirit and veteran jockey Julio Felix cleared off to the lead and drew away to win by 5 ¾ lengths in the resurrected Illinois Derby. Once a staple of the Triple Crown trail – Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner War Emblem earned his spot in the 2002 Derby with a win in this contest – the Illinois Derby had not been run in seven years but returned with sponsorship from 1/ST Bet and a $200,000 purse.

“[Track owner] Mr. Carey promised that if we were going to the Preakness, he would pay our way,” said winning trainer Mike Campbell. “That’s step number one. Julio would like to go there. We like the crabs and all the seafood out there. Then we are looking at the Iowa Derby and the Ohio Derby.”

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