In each of the last two falls, Wicked Prankster has sped to the front and never looked back in the Maryland Million Turf, winning both years. The problems has been what’s happened after those wins.

Wicked Prankster lost his next five consecutive starts after the ’23 Maryland Million, and he’s lost four straight since last year’s Million. That’s a streak he hopes to end in Sunday’s $75,000 Find Stakes at Laurel Park. Restricted to Maryland-bred or -sired runners, the Find is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

For all of Wicked Prankster’s between-Million issues, the six-year-old gelding has amassed five wins and more than $317,000 in earnings in his career.

“He’s a nice horse,” owner-trainer Sam Davis said. “You just have to take care of him.”

Wicked Prankster has primarily faced open company in his 34 career starts, going winless in his three tries this year, all on the Laurel turf. Beaten three lengths in his season opener April 21, he was no factor finishing off the board in similar spots June 15 and July 5, the latter at one mile.

“He’s doing very good; training good, eating good,” Davis said. “Now he’s running with restricted company, so he should give a better showing of himself. The last couple races, I think the heat got to him because he ran like three-quarters [of a mile] and just stopped. After that I wanted to not run him and give him a little break until the weather breaks. If you look at his form, he really did good in the fall when it’s nice and cool. I think I got him back on track and I’m looking forward to a big effort.”

Jockey Yomar Ortiz, aboard for the 2023 Turf and entered to return this weekend at Laurel for the first time since being hurt in mid-June at Delaware Park, has the call from Post 7.

“When you put him on the lead it’s best for him,” Davis said. “Everything went his way the last couple Maryland Millions. The weather was good and everything worked out. That’s why I’m anticipating this weekend to be nice and cool, the turf not too fast. I’m still anticipating putting him on the lead. That’s the way he runs his best numbers anyway. It’s best to leave him alone, at least for a little while, and then try and get him.”

Wicked Prankster, by Mosler, is both Maryland-bred and Maryland-sired. He was bred by Country Life Farm and Broken Trust Fund LLC. He ran in last year’s Find but did not complete the course after being pulled up by jockey Richard Monterrey.

Assuming the race stays on the turf, Wicked Prankster will face six rivals. That roster is headed by Crabs N Beer for trainer Keri Brion and owner Charles Blanford. The Blofeld gelding has been fifth and third in the last two runnings of the Maryland Million Turf but has been in good form of late, including finishing second in the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes on the Preakness undercard.

Ben Curtis will ride Crabs N Beer, and the duo will leave from the rail.

The rest of the field includes: Bestsugardaddyever (jockey Mychel Sanchez/trainer Jamie Ness); Sky’s Not Falling (Jorge Ruiz/Michael Trombetta); Hunter Joe (JG Torrealba/Hamilton Smith); Vax a Nation (Horacio Karamanos/Hugh McMahon); and Riccio (Daniel Centeno/Rick Sillaman).

The Find is the 11th race on a 13-race card that kicks off at 12:25 p.m.

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