Multiple Grade 1 hero VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Ire]) has been installed
as the 8-5 favorite in the 19th running of Saturday’s $300,000
Frank
J. De Francis Memorial Dash S. (G1), which returns to the stakes schedule at
Laurel Park following a one-year absence. One of three Grade 1 events in
Maryland, the six-furlong test has yielded four seasonal champions — Thor’s
Echo (2006), Smoke Glacken (1997), Cherokee Run (1994) and Housebuster (1991) —
and the 2007 winner, Benny the Bull (Lucky Lionel), earned championship honors
the following campaign.
Vineyard Haven, who will have to wait for 2010 to earn a sprint Eclipse Award,
brings a sizeable class edge into his first start against elder rivals in the De Francis. An authoritative
winner in the Hopeful
S. (G1) and Champagne S. (G1) at two, the gray colt wasn’t seen again
until February, returning with a fourth in an about one-mile Group 3 event in
Dubai. After spending another 6 1/2 months on the sidelines, he came back in
top-class form at Saratoga, finishing first in the King’s Bishop S. (G1) on
August 29. Despite being disqualified to second for bearing out, the Saeed bin
Suroor trainee was highly impressive, registering a 107 BRIS Speed rating.
“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,” assistant trainer Rick Mettee
said. “I’m very happy with his preparations. 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 1 so we’ll take our chances.”
Alan Garcia will return to the saddle on Vineyard Haven, who will face eight
opponents from his innermost post.
Former claimer FLEET VALID (Montbrook) will enter on a tear for trainer Scott
Volk, winning his last four starts, including the Teddy Drone S. and Icecapade
S., and is listed as the 9-2 second choice on the morning line. Pablo Morales
will retain the mount on the six-year-old gelding. TRUE QUALITY (Elusive
Quality), a 1 1/2-length, wire-to-wire scorer in the General George H. (G2) at
Laurel in February, will look to get back on track in the De Francis. Unplaced
in three New York starts since the General George, the four-year-old signaled
his readiness on Tuesday, drilling five furlongs in a bullet :59 2/5 at
Aqueduct. Charles Lopez will be up for trainer Roy Sedlacek, and True Quality is
the early 5-1 third favorite.
ROARING LION (Lion Hearted), a 3 1/2-length winner in the Maryland Million
Sprint H. last time, will look to extend his three-race win streak. The
five-year-old gelding has found his best form since being transferred Bruce
Levine this season, and he’ll get a new pilot in Elvis Trujillo. Grade 3 victor RAVALO (Mutakddim) also merits respect. A nine-time stakes winner at six
furlongs, the five-year-old gelding exits a 3 1/2-length romp in the Spooky Mulder S. at Belmont Park. Jeremy Rose rides the Don Barr runner.