This horse is on Fiya! Fiya, a son of Friesan Fire, will attempt to win his fourth consecutive race Saturday when he starts as one of the flashiest contenders on the Maryland Million program at Laurel Park. He goes in the $75,000 Turf Sprint Handicap, one of eight divisional stakes for Maryland-sired horses. Maryland-bred horses can draw in if there are less than eight Maryland-sired horses in a race. The program is topped by the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic. Fiya is returning home to Laurel, where he is 2 for 2 in turf sprints. One came at the 5 1/2-furlong distance he will race over Saturday, when he meets A Great Time, winner of the $100,000 The Very One on Oct. 1 at Pimlico. Fiya invades from Belmont Park, where he was a smashing winner of a first-level allowance over six furlongs on turf Sept. 20. He covered the distance in a smoking 1:06.70. “It was a very impressive performance,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. Fiya, a 3-year-old, began his win streak this summer at Laurel, among his victories a restricted allowance in which he covered 5 1/2 furlongs in an eye-popping 1:00.99. One start later, he set fractions of 21.37 seconds for the opening quarter, 43.27 for the half-mile, and 54.61 for five furlongs en route to his victory at Belmont. “When you watched his race last time out, it looked like he was doing it so easy,” Albertrani said. “He was waiting for his cue, if you wanted him to do any more. He’s just got a lot of natural speed.” Fiya was making his first start for Albertrani after being purchased at auction by Robert Masiello. :: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more. “Physically, he’s a really attractive-looking horse,” Albertrani said. “He’s well-made, well put together, well-balanced. On the racetrack, he gets your attention when you watch him train.” Trevor McCarthy has the mount from post 9. “I like being drawn on the outside,” Albertrani said. “We got a good post.” A Great Time will break from the rail following his fast-closing The Very One win at Pimlico. He rallied from next-to-last in the field of 12, covering five furlongs on yielding turf in 1:00 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 86. Julian Pimentel has the mount on the son of Street Magician for Larry Johnson and trainer Michael Trombetta. Mr. d’Angelo defends Turf title Mr. d’Angelo will be seeking to win the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf for the second year in a row – but there’s a twist. Last year, the race was run at a mile. This year, it is 1 1/8 miles. “The mile and an eighth, he’s going to be well-suited for the added distance,” trainer Tim Woolley said. “He’s a confirmed closer. I think it’s going to help, closing into the speed, going a mile and an eighth. We’re really pleased with how he’s coming into the race.” Mr. d’Angelo is part of a 12-horse field that includes Pretty Good Year, who was third in last year’s Turf. For this year’s running, Mr. d’Angelo enters off a close second in a Laurel allowance at a mile on turf Sept. 17. “He was very unlucky,” Woolley said, noting a rival horse drifted out into his path as he was closing through the stretch. Mr. d’Angelo was beaten a neck. He’ll look to close out his year with style Saturday. “We’ve pointed for this race all year, spaced his races so we could culminate with this race Saturday,” Woolley said. Mr. d’Angelo will break from post 4 under regular rider Jevian Toledo. “I’ve got to give credit to Jevian Toledo,” Woolley said. “He really knows this horse, knows what he’s capable of. He’s a good turf rider, knows Laurel very well. They’re a good fit.” Mr. d’ Angelo is a son of Seville who races for his breeder, Kevin P. Morgan. Pretty Good Year is moving back to turf after picking up checks in a series of main-track allowances at Delaware Park and Laurel. “He tries every time,” trainer Kelly Rubley said. The last time Pretty Good Year ran on turf was in the Maryland Million Turf. A return trip to the race is meaningful, as Rubley noted he’s the lone horse raced by Bobby Goodyear. “He foaled this horse,” she said “It’s very special.” Artful Splatter cuts back to one turn for the $100,000 Distaff over seven furlongs. She was a more than 10-length winner of the George Rosenberger Memorial at 1 1/16 miles last month at Delaware Park, earning a career-high Beyer Figure of 90. The card also features 2-year-olds in the $100,000 Lassie and $100,000 Nursery.