11/18/05
Last updated: 11/17/05 7:43 PM
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Elusive Jazz gave a good account of himself at 53-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) |
Saturday’s $300,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. (G1) drew an overflow
of 18 entrants, but only 14 sprinters will be allowed to start in the
six-furlong test at Laurel Park. The well-matched field includes Vosburgh S.
(G1) runner-up TIGER HEART (Scatmandu), Phoenix Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) hero
ELUSIVE JAZZ (Elusive Quality) and multiple Grade 3 winner GATORS N BEARS
(Stormy Atlantic).
Tiger Heart enters on the upswing for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., recording a
pair of sharp scores before falling two lengths short to Breeders’ Cup Sprint
(G1) runner-up Taste of Paradise in the six-furlong Vosburgh. Elusive Jazz exits
a commendable fifth-place showing in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Gators N Bears, a
locally based threat for conditioner Leo Nechamkin II, finished third, beaten
only 1 3/4 lengths, in the 2003 DeFrancis and fourth, 2 1/2 lengths back of
the winner, in last year’s edition.
Multiple stakes winner FOREST PARK (Forest Wildcat), Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2)
runner-up I’M THE TIGER (Siphon [Brz]) and WILD TALE (Tale of the Cat), who
finished second in the Phoenix and a close third in the Sport Page H. (G3) most
recently, add more depth to a race in which ATTILA’S STORM (Stormy Atlantic),
the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and relegated to the also-eligibles
list, couldn’t make the main body of the field.
Maryland Million Sprint victor SAAY MI NAME (Not for Love) will lead the post
parade with jockey Chris VanHassel. Next comes WHO’S THE COWBOY (Intensity),
Eddie King Jr.; MINISTERS WILD CAT (Deputy Minister), Ray Sabourin; Forest Park,
Mario Pino; Tiger Heart, Edgar Prado; DALE’S PROSPECT (Pioneering), Ryan
Fogelsonger; I’m the Tiger, Jerry Bailey; CLEVER ELECTRICIAN (Clever Trick),
Jeremy Rose; FRIENDLY ISLAND (Crafty Friend), John Velazquez; Wild Tale, Rene
Douglas; SENSIBLY CHIC (Distorted Humor), Enrique Jurado; ABBONDANZA (Alphabet
Soup), Jurado; Gators N Bears, Abel Castellano Jr.; and Elusive Jazz, Eibar Coa.
The also-eligibles are Attila’s Storm, Ramon Dominguez; MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
(Private Interview), Michael Baze; GOLD CLUSTER (Formal Gold), Jose Caraballo;
and BLOWN AUDIT (Devil His Due), Richard Monterrey.
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All starters will carry 118 pounds, except Elusive Jazz (122), Who’s the
Cowboy and Blown Audit (116), and Sensibly Chic (115).
The Laurel Futurity (G3) and Selima S., both $125,000 events for juveniles
over 1 1/16-grassy miles, will be held on the DeFrancis undercard. The Laurel
Futurity drew a full cast of 14, and CREVE COEUR (Lion Hearted), who was
elevated to first via disqualification in the Maryland Million Nursery S. last
out, is the lone stakes winner in the bunch. DIABOLICAL (Artax) has placed in
his last three starts, all versus stakes competition, and the Michael
Dickinson-trained ROCK LOBSTER (Mt. Livermore) is certain to draw plenty of
support following his good-looking maiden romp on the grass at Belmont Park
last time.
Fourteen fillies are set for the Selima, and J’RAY (Distant View) is the
likely favorite. The Todd Pletcher charge enters off a victory in the Jessamine
S. at Keeneland and will have the services of Bailey. Her top challengers
include ART SHOW (Out of Place), winner of the Salem County S. at Meadowlands
last out, and NICE NELLY (Seattle Slew), who exits a 3 1/2-length maiden score
at Belmont for trainer Barclay Tagg and hails from the final crop of her
legendary sire. Her dam, Pleasant Temper (Storm Cat), was a multiple
stakes-winning turf mare who earned nearly $1 million.
Laurel will also host the $100,000 Anne Arundel S., $75,000 Laurel Turf Cup
S., $75,000 Stefanita S. and $75,000 April Run S. on Saturday’s program.
