Race of the Week: DeFrancis Dash

Once one of the most important sprint races of the year, the DeFrancis Dash has fallen on some hard times. Still a pretty nice field of 9 has lined up for this year's edition. Lets take a look at them.

10th Race - Laurel Park - Saturday, November 14th, 2015
STAKES. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $350,000. Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S.. FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. By free subscription. $1750 to pass the entry box. $1750 additional to start with $350,000 Guaranteed of which 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 6% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 1% to sixth. Supplemental nominations of $3,500 each will be accepted by the usual time of entry with all other fees due as noted. Weights: Three-Year-Olds, 122 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of $150,000 twice in 2015 allowed 2 lbs.; Once in 2015, 4 lbs.; $100,000 twice in 2015, 6 lbs. Preference to starters with the highest earnings in 2014-2015. Horses may be placed on the also-eligible list. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. Trophy to the owner of the winner. (04:10 PM)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Cutty Shark 4 G L 118 Perez Xavier Barr Donald H.
2 Stallwalkin' Dude 5 G L 118 Velazquez John R. Jacobson David
3 Palace 6 H L b 118 Velasquez Cornelio H. Rice Linda
4 Sonny Inspired 4 G L o 118 Carrasco Victor R. Schoenthal Phil
5 Sir Rockport 3 G L 116 Canchari Alex Ice Tim A.
6 Spring To The Sky 6 H L 118 Luzzi Michael J. Brown Bruce R.
7 Jack's In The Deck 6 G L 118 Perez Xavier Graham Robin L.
8 Gentlemen's Bet 6 H L 118 Centeno Daniel Moquett Ron
9 Trouble Kid 3 G L 122 Navarro Joshua Preciado Ramon

Cutty Shark (Old Fashioned): 6th in his last two races which where Allowance/Optional Claimers. However, was 2nd in the General George earlier this year.

Stallwalkin' Dude (City Palace): 8th in the BC Turf Sprint and 3rd in the Vosburgh. This will be his first race at Laurel and goes from turf to dirt.

Palace (City Zip): Skipped the BC Sprint which was a week after he won the Hudson Handicap and was 4th in the Vosburgh before that. 4th in last year's General George, this will be his final race before heading to stud.

Sonny Inspired (Artie Schiller): 3rd in his last two Allowance/Optional Claimer and Allowance respectively. Laurel specialist who has never finished worse then 4th at the track.

Sir Rockport (Rockport Harbor): 3rd in Allowance/Optional Claimer and won under the same conditions before that. Stakes debut.

Spring to the Sky (Langfur): 8th in the Neartic and won the Laurel Dash. Turf to dirt.

Jack's in the Deck (Love of Money): Won the Maryland Million Sprint and was 6th in the Laurel Dash to Spring to the Sky. Last time out was the first time he has been in the top 3 in a stakes race at Laurel.

Gentlemen's Bet (Half Ours): 5th in both the Phoenix and Aristides. Laurel debut.

Trouble Kid (Harlan's Holiday): Won both the Valley Forge and Gallant Bob. Laurel debut, but undefeated since breaking maiden in July.

Picks

Win: Palace
Place: Trouble Kid
Show: Sonny Inspired