A strong field of sprinters will go postward in Saturday’s $100,000 Frank Whiteley Stakes at Laurel Park over six furlongs on the main track. Open to 3-year-olds and up, the race brings together a mix of stakes veterans and promising contenders — led by a former Bob Baffert trainee who’s thriving on the East Coast.

Worcester looks like the one they’ll all have to hold off. Since moving to trainer Brittany Russell’s barn from Bob Baffert, the 5-year-old son of Empire Maker has been red hot, with two wins and two seconds from four starts. He most recently finished a strong second in the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct and reunites with jockey Sheldon Russell. He owns the field’s best recent class and form and looms a serious win threat.

His stablemate New King makes things interesting. Another Baffert transfer to Russell, the 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief makes his first start since a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. He’ll be cutting back to a sprint for the first time since his career debut and while no rider is listed yet, the talent is there if he adapts. He’s the wildcard in this bunch with real upside.

“He’s improved every week since he arrived,” Russell said. “He was a little quiet off the van, so we let him get right. I’m still on the fence if we’re going to run him. He still has an allowance condition. I think once we get him going down here, he’s going to be a fun horse to have around for the summer.”

Circle P enters off a gritty win in the Not For Love Stakes for trainer Flint W. Stites. A consistent Maryland-bred with four career wins and nearly a quarter-million in earnings, he’ll have Ricardo Chiappe aboard and should be right in the thick of things. He’ll need to take another step forward to beat Worcester, but his recent form puts him firmly in the mix.

Bartlett hasn’t been seen since November, when he was fifth in the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes. The 4-year-old gelding is 4-for-6 on dirt and brings strong speed to the table for trainer John C. Servis. With Frankie Pennington aboard, he could be a pace player and is dangerous if ready off the bench.

Factor It In, trained by Carlos A. Mancilla and ridden by JG Torrealba, is one of the most experienced horses in the field with 14 career wins and nearly $670,000 earned. The 9-year-old gray son of The Factor was fourth in a tough open allowance last out and still has fight, though this group may be a touch sharp for him at this stage.

Seven’s Eleven, a 5-year-old gelding trained by David R. Mohan and ridden by Angel Cruz, also exits the same open allowance as Factor It In, finishing sixth. With seven career wins and nearly $400,000 in earnings, he’s been a solid runner, but he’ll need to turn the tables on tougher rivals to contend for top honors.

The Whiteley is carded as the eighth on a nine-race program. Post time for the day’s racing is 12:10 p.m.