Mo Speed Racing’s Grade 2 winner Affirmative Lady, unraced since finishing 11^th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last spring, is set to make her highly anticipated return to competition for new connections in Sunday’s $100,000 Caesar’s Wish at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Caesar’s Wish for fillies and mares 3 and up is the second of three $100,000 stakes on a nine-race program, joined by a pair of scheduled grass events – the 1 1/16-mile Searching for 3-year-old fillies and 1 1/8-mile Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds.

First race post time is 12:25 p.m.

By 2023 Hall of Famer Arrogate, at $210,000 Affirmative Lady was one of the first yearlings purchased by London-based football agent and businessman Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing USA, for whom she made seven starts over two seasons with a record of 2-1-2 and became his first domestic graded-stakes winner in the April 2023 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

From there it was on to Kentucky, where Affirmative Lady hesitated into a crowded first turn and was never in contention. After going to the sidelines and changing hands, both in ownership and trainers from Graham Motion to Michael Stidham, she returned to the work tab in March at WinStar Farm and since mid-May with Stidham’s string at Delaware Park.

“She was bought out of a sale and sent to us. We’re very lucky to get a filly that’s a Grade 2 winner as a 3-year-old. She had some time off and we brought her up to this race,” Stidham said. “We’re just hoping to get her back started. Anytime you go from your 3-year-old year to running against older horses, that’s always a test. She’s trained well, so we’re hoping she can handle the step up against older horses.”

Stidham has been impressed with Affirmative Lady, who shows nine timed breezes at Delaware for her comeback, six of them bullet works, the most recent being a half-mile move in 48.60 seconds July 27, second-fastest of 62 horses. She is 2-0 at the Caesar’s Wish distance.

“She’s just a very athletic, willing filly in the morning. She does everything the right way,” Stidham said. “She’s breezed really well and we’re anxious to get her back to the races and see where we fit.”

Julio Hernandez, who ranks among Delaware Park’s leading jockeys and is 4-for-18 at Laurel’s summer meet, comes in to ride from Post 8 in a field of nine.

“It looks like in her races from last year she tended to be a stalking type,” Stidham said. “So, I think she’ll be in that stalking position, hopefully, and be able to finish from there.”

Affirmative Lady is 3-1 on the morning line and the second choice in what, on paper, is a highly competitive group.

The morning line favorite, at 8-5, is Saddle Up Jessie for trainer Brittany Russell. The five-year-old More Than Ready mare has won five races, all of them since switching into trainer Brittany Russell’s barn in mid-2023. Among those wins are two in stakes company, the Carousel at Laurel last December and the Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct this past February.

Most recently, Saddle Up Jessie, owned by Michael Ryan, finished second in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap behind Honor D Lady. Brittany Russell’s husband Sheldon will ride, and the duo will leave from post seven.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!