The DeFrancis Memorial Dash (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
LRL- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
September 18, 2021
For the first time since 2018, the DeFrancis Memorial Dash will be run, and a field of ten will go to the gate for this six furlong race. The race has had an interesting history in terms of when it has been run, initially debuting in 2005, but then going from 2007-2016 off of the schedule. It’s back on again this year, and we’ll see how long that lasts. Three years ago, there was a dead heat for the win between Charentes and Lucky Star. Other past winners include Alpha Ultimo and Ljosalfar. Here’s a look at the field!
#1- Admire (Angelos Stable, ridden by A Crispin)- This four year old gelding will make the 26th start of his career, and the vast majority of those have been in overnights. He has won an ungraded stake, though, taking the $100.000 Hughes in February. His two graded tries, each coming in his last three races, have not gone as well. Admire is rested fine for this start, but it’s been a busy year for him, as this is his 11th start of the season.
#2- Dont Worry Be Jolly (Mb Stables, ridden by H A Karamanos)- Early in his career, he was passed around between trainers quite often, but that has stabilized for him now. Mb picked him up in the auction for $24.010, and has bounced him around a little between claimers and graded races. Won the Grade 3 Runhappy in May, and got a 100 SRF for the effort on a good track surface. Other recent wins are in claimers, so he’s certainly capable but does not really wow an outsider.
#3- In Waiting (Rampage Stable, ridden by Je Toledo)- Until recently, this horse was in waiting to get a chance in graded stakes, but he had done real well leading up to that in allowances, consistently getting a piece of the purse time and time again. In June, one of those graded stakes led to a third place finish in the Bold Venture.
#4- Barbary Appeal (Axeman, ridden by X Perez)- A veteran horse that will be making his 40th career start here. He has graded experience from 2019, but until very recently, he had been running in high level claimers and did well in them. That moved back into ungraded territory, and he won his last start, $120.000 Tale Of The Cat at SAR last month. This is his toughest test in a while and he’s earned the chance.
#5- Personal Beliefs (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J Pimenetel)- When running a mile on the grass, Personal Beliefs has run very well and even took part in the BC Mile. Things changed for him in the spring, and in April he was entered into the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and placed second. Another handicap was attempted in early July, and he was second again, this in the Smile Sprint Handicap. He’s one of the top choices here.
#6- Settle The Score Vr (John Henry, ridden by An Cruz)- Picked up for $75.010 in the June auction, this three year old will get to enjoy a four pound weight allowance on the rest of the field since everyone else here is older. He’s won three of nine for his career, but when you take away the longer races, that improves to three of six. He’ll need to be better than he was in his last graded start, however, where he was a non factor in the Smile Sprint Handicap. Won an ELP allowance last month.
#7- Pookie (Winning Link Stables, ridden by J D Acosta)- This will be the 13th start of his career, but the first as a gelding. He underwent the snip last month after running third in an ELP allowance. He’ll cut back on his distance here as well and race less than a mile for the first time since February, a race that he did win. All of his wins are in sprints, so that is likely a welcome change for this one.
#8- Kiss The Snake (Nakamura Stables, ridden by T McCarthy)- No one in this field has earned more than Kiss The Snake has, as the seven year old gelding is approaching $1,700.000 in earnings. A great 2019 played a big part in that, including running fourth in the BC Sprint. More recently, he has been running in races like this, or open allowances. He has yet to win this year, however. SRF’s are still very consistent, and he is still close to the front more often than not. Maybe not the one to beat, but can get a piece of this purse.
#9- Seven Towers (Threshold, ridden by F Boyce)- Since arriving with Threshold, Seven Towers has come to life, with six wins in eleven starts. Perhaps some of those were in conservatively placed races, but he has been moved along over the course of the year, going all the way into the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap for his last start. That was nearly a win, but the trainer had to settle for second in a photo. I also like the race he had in April, in winning the Grade 3 Fleet Sprint Handicap. In general, I like horses that know how to win, and Seven Towers checks all the boxes for more. Hate to jinx a fellow writer, but he’ll be my pick.
#10- Tempestuous- Scratched
#11- Milford Sound (Mwn Racing, ridden by F Lynch)- This five year old by Ye Charley finished off 2020 by winning two of his final three races, and off a long layoff to begin this year, won a small ungraded stake. The stakes have since been higher, running in the Grade 1 Crosby and the Grade 2 OBrien at DMR over the summer, but did not cash a check in either of the races. A slight drop like this will serve him well, but still must be at his best.
Prediction: 9-5-8-2
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
