Yuugiri skipping in the rain to a 3-1/2 length victory in the Carousel at Oaklawn Park in February. (Coady Photography)
$150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Draws 25 Nominations > Four Graded-Stakes Winners, Defending Champion Beren Included > Dash Headlines Five Stakes Worth $500,000 in Purses Saturday, July 29
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Graded-stakes winners Lightening Larry, Little Vic, Wondrwherecraigis and filly Yuugiri, as well as 14-time winner Yodel E.A. Who and defending champion Beren, are among 25 horses nominated to the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Saturday, July 29 at Laurel Park.
The six-furlong De Francis for 3-year-olds and up highlights a program of five stakes worth $500,000 in purses on the final Saturday of the richest month during Laurel’s summer meet that featured 11 stakes worth $1.075 million.
Named for the late president and chairman of both Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course, the De Francis’ illustrious roster of winners includes Hall of Famer Housebuster; fellow sprint champions Cherokee Run, Smoke Glacken, Thor’s Echo and Benny the Bull; and Lite the Fuse, the race’s only two-time winner (1995-96).
Beren and Wondrwherecraigis respectively ran 1-2 in last year’s De Francis, separated by 2 ¾ lengths. Beren has gone on to win three of 11 starts since, among them the 2022 Jump Start at Parx, and placed in five other stakes including a third behind Eastern Bay and Yodel E.A. Who in the Feb. 18 General George (G3) at Laurel.
Wondrwherecraigis finished first in the 2021 De Francis, then a Grade 3, three-quarters of a length ahead of Jalen Journey, but was disqualified to second for interference. He was a front-running winner of Belmont Park’s Bold Ruler (G3) and the 2022 Fire Plug in his subsequent starts, the latter at Laurel, where he owns four wins and two seconds in six tries.
Lightening Larry has won back-to-back stakes in the May 29 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park and July 1 Alapocas Run at Delaware Park and has had success in Maryland before, springing a 12-1 upset of the 2022 Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico. Little Vic owns a win over Laurel’s main track in the 2022 City of Laurel last November and has run exclusively in graded-stakes this year, winning the six-furlong Tom Fool (G3) and running second in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) among four starts.
A multiple stakes winner including the 2022 Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park going 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-old Yuugiri is the lone filly nominated to the De Francis, exiting a victory in the six-furlong Saylorville July 7 at Prairie Meadows. In addition to the General George, 7-year-old gelding Yodel E.A. Who has placed in five other stakes, four of them at Laurel including the Frank Whiteley and Henry S. Clark 14 days apart in April. He rallied for a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance triumph last out July 8 at Laurel.
Also prominent among nominees are two-time stakes-placed Al Loves Josie, 11-for-17 lifetime in the top three at Laurel; Borracho, third in the 2019 Woody Stephens (G1); stakes winner Coastal Mission, three times stakes-placed at Laurel; 2021 Timonium Juvenile winner Cynergy’s Star; Nobody Listens, a stakes winner on both dirt and all-weather surfaces; July 1 John A. Nerud (G2) runner-up Synthesis; multiple stakes-winning stablemates Tappin Cat and Threes Over Deuces; and three-time stakes-placed Uncle Ernie.
The $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles attracted 20 nominations led by Nimitz Class, who had a five-race win streak snapped when second by a half-length in the June 17 Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth, his graded debut. The 4-year-old colt’s streak included wins in the 2022 Robert T. Manfuso and John B. Campbell and 2023 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial and Native Dancer, all at Laurel.
Other nominees include defending champion Ridin With Biden, who went on to capture the Greenwood Cup (G3) two starts later; 2021 Gotham (G3) winner Weyburn; multiple stakes winners Armando R, Forewarned and Muad’dib; Be Better, a winner at Pimlico and Laurel in his last two starts for Maryland’s leading trainer, Brittany Russell; 9-year-old gelding Bobby G, who has earned 15 of his 17 career wins at Laurel; Yodel E.A. Who and Zabracadabra, a winner of four of his last six starts that has six wins and five seconds in 14 tries at Laurel.
Most popular among horsemen with 27 nominations, including Yuugiri, is the $100,000 Alma North for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting 6 ½ furlongs. Among them are Beguine, beaten a neck by Yuugiri in the Fantasy; Cheetara, winner of the May 20 Skipat at Pimlico and third behind Chub Wagon in last year’s Alma North; Intrepid Daydream, third by less than a length in the July 15 Caesar’s Wish, and multiple stakes-winning stablemate Malibu Beauty; and multiple stakes winners Princess Kokachin, Shotgun Hottie, Spirit Wind and Street Lute.
Rounding out the stakes action are a pair of $75,000 sprints restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses, both at seven furlongs – the Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds and Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies. Sixteen were nominated to the Star de Naskra led by multiple stakes winner Coffeewithchris, exiting the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) two starts back; Feeling Woozy, fifth to subsequent Grade 1 winner Arabian Lion in the May 20 Sir Barton at Pimlico; Charles Town stakes winner Paymengold; and It’s Viper, third in an off-the-turf Tale of the Cat June 25 at Monmouth.
Malibu Moonshine, winner of the 2022 Maryland Juvenile Fillies and Gin Talking at Laurel but unraced since suffering her first loss when third in the seven-furlong Ruthless Feb. 5 at Aqueduct, tops 13 nominees to the Miss Disco. Others include Maryland Juvenile Fillies runner-up Fast Tracked; July 8 Jersey Girl Handicap winner Precious Avary; and Liquidator, third or better in nine of 13 races at Laurel including five wins.
Entries will be taken, and post positions drawn Sunday, July 23 for all five stakes.
