(Edited Laurel Park report)

LAUREL, Md. – A strong field of older horses headed by the King Leatherbury trained warrior Ah Day meet up on Saturday in the $70,000 Native Dancer Stakes. Fans who make the trek to Laurel for the holiday weekend receive Christmas promotions lost to the blizzard of 2009, including free 2010 racing calendars and fantastic giving-tree-giveaways.

Eleven starters will race one mile in the Native Dancer and Ah Day is the 7-2 morning line favorite. Poised to win his second straight at Laurel after a resounding score on Dec. 18, the 7-year-old Malibu Moon gelding has won fourteen races, including ten stakes. Sheldon Russell continues as his rider.

Greenspring (4-1) is expected to move forward after finishing second in the Fall HighWeight Handicap at Aqueduct. Jeremy Rose, who has two wins aboard the Chris Grove trainee, is back up again.

Well-traveled Researcher (9-2) ships to Laurel for trainer Jeff Runco. With eleven lifetime wins including two stakes in West Virginia this year, Researcher carries Travis Dunkelberger for the first time.

John Terranova sent Broadway Producer (5-1) to finish third in the Alysheba Stakes at The Meadowlands last time out, but has decided to try Laurel’s main track again, where he won the Jennings Handicap in 2008 and finished fifth in the General George and fourth in the Maryland Million Classic this year. Harry Vega has the call.

Mark Shuman calls the shots for Encaustic (6-1), who trains at Fair Hill, Md. The son of Broad Brush won two stakes at MountaineerPark this year, the Labor Day and Mountaineer Mile. Justin Shepherd will ride.

His Greatness (6-1) has moved to the stable of Rick Dutrow after a long campaign in the mid-west. Since his arrival in New York, the Honour and Glory colt shows a four furlong workout on Dec. 13. Erick Rodriquez will receive riding instructions.

Completing the field are Tone It Down (12-1), Bunker Hill (20-1), Sarto (20-1) Run Warrior Run (30-1) and Senior (30-1).