Scratches could play a significant role in Saturday’s $100,000 Private Terms Stakes for three-year-olds at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/16-mile contest has attracted a field of eight. Horses leaving from the eight- and nine-holes are a combined 0-for-8 this year, the short run to the first turn forcing riders to commit quickly to a gameplan.

“That’s an issue,” said trainer Michael Gorham, trainer of the eight-horse, Pay Billy. “I think he has enough speed to get out of there running and at least tuck into the three path on the first turn.”

The good news from the perspective of Gorham and owners RKTN Racing: scratches are expected.

Trainer Butch Reid entered two horses in the Private Terms but said Wednesday morning that Global Steve would instead race in the Animal Kingdom Stakes at Turfway on Saturday.

Additionally, two entrants, Change My World and Superpower, cross-entered into a first-level allowance at Laurel on Sunday, also at 1 1/16 miles. With no rider named, it seems likely that Change My World will find his way to the allowance contest.

Pay Billy made his stakes debut in the Miracle Wood Stakes here last month, and he ran his heart out, dropping a nose decision to Barbadian Runner after pressing the early pace.

“I thought it was a real good effort,” said trainer Michael Gorham. “He made the lead and waited on [Barbadian Runner] a little bit. When he saw that horse get by him, he re-rallied.”

Pay Billy, a $60,000 purchase as a two-year-old, is a colt by Improbable out of the graded stakes-winning Harlington mare Harlington Rose. It took Pay Billy four tries to break his maiden, which he did going six furlongs at Laurel Dec. 15.

Stretched out to a mile for his next start in allowance company, he delivered a dominating five-length win over next-out winner All the Hardways.

That led to the Miracle Wood, in which Pay Billy, a nose behind Barbadian Runner, was nearly four clear of show horse Sacred Thunder.

Gorham continues to be impressed by Pay Billy’s recent training.

“He’s getting better all the time,” Gorham stated. “I’m expecting a big race from him. He’s a big colt, and he’s coming into himself. I think he still has a little more in him.”

The field includes several previous stakes winners, complicating Pay Billy’s task. Those include:

• The Linda Albert-trained Crab Daddy, winner of the Pennsylvania Nursery in December but winless in four straight since;
• Tony Eclipse, winner of the Maryland Juvenile for trainer Brittany Russell who was a troubled sixth as the favorite in the Spectacular Bid at Laurel in January;
• Baby Dukes, who won the City of Brotherly Love for trainer Butch Reid last out at Parx in his first try at the 1 1/16-mile distance; and
• James F. Lewis, III winner Sacred Thunder for trainer Gary Capuano, who arrives off some difficult trips and was third as the favorite in the Miracle Wood.

The Private Terms is the eight race on a nine-race program. Post time for the card is 12:10 p.m.