Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]), last year’s best juvenile on dirt, is the
marquee name in Saturday’s $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1) at
Laurel. The six-furlong feature attracted a field of nine, but most eyes will be
on Vineyard Haven as he seeks his third top-level score.

Victorious in the Hopeful S. (G1) and Champagne S. (G1) last season, the
Godolphin-owned gray was then shipped to Dubai to prepare for the Kentucky Derby
(G1). After one poor race at Nad al Sheba, he was withdrawn from Derby
contention and did not reappear until the August 29 King’s Bishop S. (G1) at
Saratoga which was contested on a sloppy track. He ran a huge race off the
bench, showing speed from the start and just lasting by a head over Capt.
Candyman Can (Candy Ride [Arg]), but was disqualified and placed second for an
obvious infraction in the stretch. Though he must face older horses for the
first time here, he drew favorably on the inside and might again encounter an
off-track.

TRUE QUALITY (Elusive Quality) peaked last winter with scores in the Paumonok
H. at Aqueduct and the General George H. (G2) over this strip, the latter at the
expense of the classy Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike). He’s struggled in three
starts since but has had excuses. His lack of turf experience was a knock
against at Penn National two starts back, and last time he endured a wide trip
and tired a little bit in the Forego S. (G1). The bay four-year-old’s back class and affinity for
the surface should take him a long way.

RAVALO (Mutakddim) is a hard knocker with 10 stakes wins to his credit. His
signature win came this past May when he led the field home in the Maryland
Sprint H. (G3) at Pimlico, though that race lacked much in the way of depth.
Indeed, the five-year-old doesn’t quite seem classy enough to turn back the more
logical favorites today, but his 15-8-2-3 record over the past two seasons
suggests he’s a must-use in the exotics.

PEACE CHANT (War Chant) was probably a short horse when he went from second
to 10th in the final furlong of the Forego on September 5, his first race in
nearly seven months. Before the layoff he notched the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf
Paradise, a welcome side trip to Arizona and away from the synthetic wars in
California. He never did manage to win on such surfaces in the Golden State, so
we expect him to fare better with a prep under his belt.

The Laurel-based AH DAY (Malibu Moon) recorded a huge 112 BRIS Speed rating
in his last trip over this surface, the Fire Plug S. in January 2008. He added
the Toboggan H. (G3) this past March, but has failed to crack the century-Speed
figure mark in two subsequent victories. An all-or-nothing type the past two
seasons, the six-year-old might freak on his home track (where he is 14-8-3-1)
but it is understandable if most take his recent downturn in output at face
value. SARATOGA RUSSELL (Trippi) is essentially a quick allowance type who will
be blazing the trail early. He could prove dangerous if he shakes off early
challengers, but we think classier foes will eventually reel him in.

The rest of the field are not far removed from running in claimers. ROARING
LION (Lion Hearted) just won the Maryland Million Sprint but could have been had
for $32,000 in July. FLEET VALID (Montbrook) was unbeatable at Monmouth this
year after being claimed for $14,000 in April, while SACRED JOURNEY (Unbridled’s
Song) won for $30,000 two starts back. All bring excellent form, but all three
face the sternest tests of their careers here.