Many horses who have gone on to greater things have used lesser races as preps for the bigger ones.

Mayan King can either go in the Suburban ... a tough race for a first stakes off a layoff ... or race into shape against lesser company ... the smarter path chosen by Contessa.

Way back in 1975 ... Wajima used the Marylander Stakes as a prep for bigger things ... then went on to defeat Foolish Pleasure and Forego twice each ... and win the 3YO championship.

It's a pleasure to read knowledgable posts like yours. Dixie said you were good ... and as usual ... he was right.

And of course you knew I was joking about cornhusks ... a Brooklynite pretending not to know farm stuff. Only a dunce would fail to have seen that ... and that's certainly not you.