Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash

Saturday's Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. (G1) came up extremely

competitive with a talented field of 11 sprinters, and the six-furlong event

will be held again at Pimlico, where it was first run in 1990, as Laurel Park

undergoes renovations. We'll give a slight edge to SHAKE YOU DOWN (Montbrook),

who returns off a freshening for trainer Scott Lake.

The six-year-old showed his class last year, winning seven times as well as

recording a runner-up finish in the DeFrancis and a third in the Breeders' Cup

Sprint (G1). Shake You Down captured the Sunshine Millions Sprint and Count

Fleet Sprint H. (G3) earlier this season, but following a stumbling start in

May's Bold Ruler H. (G3) he earned a well-deserved vacation. The chestnut

gelding raced 13 times last year, 11 times in 2002 and had never received a

freshening during his career. He has trained superbly in the mornings at Belmont

Park for his return and loves Pimlico (four-for-four). We'll look for him to

come back rejuvenated and to be on or very close to the lead from the start

before shaking down his rivals through the stretch.

GATORS N BEARS (Stormy Atlantic) also likes the track (3-1-2-0) and comes off

a commendable third in August to Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Speightstown in the

Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2). The Leo Nechamkin trainee runs well fresh, easily

winning the six-furlong Maryland Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Pimlico off a similar

break earlier this year, and figures to sit a perfect stalking trip from post 4

under Javier Castellano. Gators N Bears has earned BRIS Speed ratings of 112 and

110 this season as well as BRIS E2 Pace figures in the same range. He's got nine

wins at this distance and looks very dangerous.

MIDAS EYES (Touch Gold) was a dominant winner of the Forego H. (G1) two

starts back and is eligible to bounce back from an extremely disappointing 10th

in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He recorded Speed figures of 112 for both starts

prior to that, and the Bobby Frankel charge has always been a very classy

runner. However, he's likely to go favored and is unplaced from two attempts at

six furlongs. We'll use him on the bottom of the exotics.

A HUEVO (Cool Joe) earned a 110 Speed figure when capturing last year's

DeFrancis and has a couple of starts in recent months for this appearance.

Trained by Michael Dickinson, the eight-year-old gelding packs a strong late

kick, recording triple-digit Late Pace numbers from his last four starts, and

should have a stiff pace up front on Saturday. A Huevo gets a tough 123-pound

weight assignment and will face stiffer competition this year, but he could

offer a challenge through the stretch.

WILDCAT HEIR (Forest Wildcat) will be tested for class but merits

consideration at long odds. A six-furlong specialist, the four-year-old brings

improving form into this event for conditioner Ben Perkins Jr., earning

increasing Speed ratings of 101, 105, 107 and 108 from his last four outings.

He's very quick and could sustain his speed a long way if he handles the class

hike.

CLOCK STOPPER (Gilded Time) is a viable candidate for a top three placing and

might contend for the win if he can finally put it all together, but we're

willing to go against. He was no factor last time in the Breeders' Cup Sprint

and owns no stakes wins at six furlongs. In fact, he's winless from a total of

five stakes attempts this year. Clock Stopper probably wants a little more

ground, but he still owns a strong late kick. CHAMPALI (Glitterman) didn't fire

last time in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and may have a difficult time turning

things around in this spot. We liked his gutsy victory in the Phoenix Breeders'

Cup S. (G3) two starts back, but this company looks much more difficult than he

faced there and his best races have come when he has raced on the front end from

the start. He may get shuffled too far back here.

ABBONDANZA (Alphabet Soup) is very fast and is a stakes winner over the

track, but the sophomore will face pressure from the start and must rebound from

a tough effort in the Breeders' Cup in which he packed it in through the stretch

run. We'll watch to see how he bounces back. LION TAMER (Will's Way) exits a

decent effort at Aqueduct and could scratch from this spot in favor of the Cigar

Mile (G1) next weekend. He'll face an extremely difficult challenge in either

spot. PHILADELPHIA JIM (Mr. Greeley) probably faces too much of a class hike.

TRUE DIRECTION (French Deputy) brings dull form into this event.