The Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, the signature sprint at Laurel Park, has played host to champions Housebuster (1991), Cherokee Run (1994) and Smoke Glacken (1997). Richter Scale’s track and stakes record of 1:07.8 for 6F appears safe heading into this Saturday’s $150,000 feature, but good form abounds in the 32nd running of the Dash, adding intrigue to a 50-cent Late Pick 4 wager that encompasses two other six-figure stakes. Here’s a closer look:
LRL 7th race (3:31 EST) -- NIMITZ CLASS has gone to the head of the class for trainer Bruce Kravets, the 19th leading conditioner of all-time with more than 3,700 wins. The 4-year-old colt won his last four stakes at Laurel Park going long with an average 100 Beyer. Then, in his first Grade III try in the Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park, he raced 3-wide most of the way and edged away at the eighth pole before favored Petulante (4-6, $236k) caught him. BE BETTER arrives in the $100,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes in peak form for top local conditioner Brittany Russell, drawing clear in the final furlong of back-to-back optional claiming wins at 1-1/16 miles. He gets another chance to prove he belongs in stakes company. YODEL E.A. WHO, unhurried in last until mid-turn, rallied widest under a vigorous ride for his first win of the year. He galloped out strong, a good sign with added ground to cover today, and is worth longshot consideration.
LRL 8th race (4:02 EST) -- PRINCESS KOKACHIN ran her Laurel Park record to 9-for-15 with an authoritative front-end allowance victory and she can make good use of her speed again in her first long sprint attempt in two years. STREET LUTE backed off an early duel with her stablemate, checked while in tight on the turn, then finished a clear second. The extra half-furlong could make the winning difference. BEGUINE demolished a suspect allowance field at Belmont off a five-month layoff, then set the pace and back-pedaled in the Grade II Bed of Roses at 7F. She blossomed for trainer Ed Allard last winter, running second to stakes-winning sprinters Rossa Veloche and Betsy Blue, who are a combined 19-41 with $1.19 million in earnings.
LRL 9th race (4:33 EST) -- LIGHTENING LARRY is ‘pretty much perfect’, trainer Jorge Delgado said in recent published report heading into the De Francis Dash. He won 6F stakes at four tracks in his last nine starts and his only losses at the distance this year were to multiple graded stakes winner Candy Man Rocket and a runner-up stakes finish after he dueled through a :43.4 half-mile split. SYNTHESIS rallied past the aforementioned Candy Man Rocket in the closing yards in the Grade II John Nerud at 7F – and he did it while racing 3- to 5-wide throughout.
LRL 10th race (5:05 EST) – LUV YA BYE BYE steps up off the claim and back-to-back front-end romps on the main track. If he handles the turf better than his previous go-round, he could three-peat in a field that is a combined 4-for-35 this year. But take little to chance and go five deep in the final leg of the Pick 4.
Suggested 50-cent Ticket
LRL 7th Race: 1, 3, 5
LRL 8th Race: 1, 2, 5
LRL 9th Race: 3, 6
LRL 10th Race: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Cost for 50-Cent Ticket: $45
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