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Nine Sprinters Set For Saturday's Grade I De Francis Dash

     LAUREL, MD. 10-21-09---Nine sharp sprinters have been entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (Grade I) at Laurel Park. The De Francis Dash is one of just three Grade I races contested in Maryland, along with the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, and the historic Pimlico Special.

     Introduced in 1990, the De Francis Dash is one of the elite six-furlong sprints in the country with four of the 18 winners-Housebuster (1991), Cherokee Run (1994), Smoke Glacken (1997) and Thor’s Echo (2006)-earning Eclipse Award honors for champion sprinter. The Dash was not carded in 2008 due to a purse account shortfall.

     With the connections of Kodiak Kowboy and Fabulous Strike opting not to come back three weeks after running 1-2 in the Grade I Vosburgh Stakes, favoritism is bestowed upon Godolphin Stable’s talented three-year-old Vineyard Haven (8-5), who was disqualified from first and placed second in his last start, the Grade I King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29.

     “He’s had an easy time for a couple of weeks after that race but once he got back at Belmont we gave him a couple of easy half miles and then we had him stride along and he looked great doing that. This morning he went 47 and 1 and I’m very happy with his preparations,” said assistant trainer Rick Mettee. “We think he’s fit, sound and ready to run another big race. It is not going to be easy from the rail but we are 8-5 in a Grade I so we’ll take our chances.”

     The son of Lido Palace (CHI) won a pair of Grade I races during his two-year-old campaign. Vineyard Haven ran a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the King’s Bishop. Three of his competitors also produced triple digit numbers in their last start, including the 9-2 second choice Fleet Valid.

     Fleet Valid ran a 100 Beyer in an easy score in the Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sept. 7. The son of Montbrook, who won the 1993 De Francis Dash, has won four straight since being claimed by trainer Scott Volk for $14,000.

     “This is as good as it gets,” Volk said. “He’s got a lot of back class and for $14,000 you take a chance. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. He’s gotten better every time he’s run for us.”

     In 2007 while in the Mike Trombetta barn, Fleet Valid competed in the Grade III Maryland Sprint Handicap against Diabolical and Talent Search and the Iowa Sprint Handicap versus Benny the Bull. He was then claimed three times during a 15-month period before Volk acquired the six-year-old in early April.

     “It’s an amazing story,” added Volk. “We never dreamed this would happen. He returned to his old form. Somehow he’s come back to life. He’s been there before and now he’s coming back and trying it again two years later.”

     Roaring Lion (6-1), who won the Maryland Million Sprint here on Sept. 26, is back to compete in Laurel’s most important race. The son of Lion Hearted has won three straight races since arriving in trainer Bruce Levine’s stable.

      “The Maryland Million race was pretty easy on him but he didn’t face the kind of horses he’s going to face this Saturday,” Levine said. “He’s doing super for us but this is going to be his acid test. Our horse gives a great race every time. How can you knock him? You have to love him but the favorite beat Capt. Candyman Can at Saratoga in a big effort.”

     Laurel Park-based Ravalo (8-1) has won nine stakes at the distance for trainer Donald Barr, including the Grade III Maryland Sprint Handicap on the Preakness undercard. The son of Mutakddim comes into the race off a victory in the Spooky Muldoon Stakes at Belmont Park, where he ran a 100 Beyer.

     “I feel pretty good about our chances with Fabulous Strike not in the race,” said Barr said. “Maybe he isn’t the number one sprinter in the country at the moment but he has been throughout the year. I have tried to steer clear of him, Kodiak Kowboy and the other top sprinters. We are not about glamour rather a Joe Six-pack crew. If the heavy hitters are at Saratoga then we are at Mountaineer.”

     Ravalo has won 13 of 27 career races with 22 in the money finishes for earnings of $712,285. However the five-year-old, who has run at 11 different tracks, has competed in graded company on four previous occasions.

     “What’s made my horse better is he is no longer a one-dimensional horse,” added Barr. “He always had to have the lead or he wasn’t interested in running and now he doesn’t have to do that which gives us more options. He can now play the race like it comes up which makes him a better horse. He is much more professional.”

     True Quality (5-1) upset Fabulous Strike in the Grade II General George Handicap here in February. Since then the son of Elusive Quality has run just three times, including off the board finishes in the Grade I Carter Handicap and Forego Stakes.

     The four remaining starters in the field are all more than 10-1 on Frank Carulli’s morning line.

     Ah Day (12-1), conditioned at Laurel by the legendary King Leatherbury, has won added money races at four different distances. Earlier this year he finished behind Kodiak Kowboy and Fabulous Strike in the Grade I Carter Handicap. The son of Malibu Moon has not raced since a turf try in the Mister Diz Stakes here on August 15.

     “He is doing super,” said Leatherbury, who ranks third on the all-time win list with 6,282 career victories. “He usually runs very well fresh and we got him fresh. I really expect him to fire a big race and if he doesn’t I’m going to be really disappointed. We’ll let the speed go and see what happens.”

     Peace Chant (12-1) finished 10th in the Grade I Forego Stakes last time out but prior to that the son of War Chant was victorious in the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.

     Sacred Journey (15-1) has won three straight for trainer Tony Dutrow but the son of Unbridled’s Song is still looking for his first added money victory.

     Saratoga Russell (20-1) has finished first or second in six of eight career races. Trainer Michael Hushion and jockey Channing Hill teamed up to win the Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap in 2008 with Golden Dawn.

     “You can make a case for just about everyone in the race,” said Barr. “And from a bettor’s standpoint, you can’t get any better than that.”

$300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (Grade I)

     The 10-race program will also feature a pair of $50,000 Maryland-bred stakes: The Find Handicap and Twixt Stakes.

     The first 4,000 full-paid admissions will receive a complimentary “Dash of Color” sweatshirt, which features the silks of the previous 18 winners.

-MJC-