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BloodHorse.com Articles for "De Francis Dash"

Action Andy Gets Nod in De Francis Thriller

Action Andy Gets Nod in De Francis Thriller

Action Andy closed relentlessly on the outside to get up in the final strides by a whisker over a game Il Villano in a terrific finish to win the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park Oct. 27.

 Saturday, October 27, 2012
Sean Avery Can Bounce Back in De Francis Dash

Sean Avery Can Bounce Back in De Francis Dash

Grade I winner Sean Avery, who split the field in the Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) as the favorite last month, is the 5-2 morning line choice for the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park Oct. 27.

 Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Laurel Set to Begin 57-Day Meet

Laurel Set to Begin 57-Day Meet

The Laurel Park fall meet kicks off Sept. 11 with a 10-race card, headlined by the Geisha Stakes for fillies and mares.

 Thursday, September 09, 2010
Laurel Cancels De Francis Dash

Laurel Cancels De Francis Dash

Laurel Park has suspended the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. II) from its fall stakes schedule.

 Thursday, August 19, 2010
De Francis Dash Restored to Laurel Calendar

De Francis Dash Restored to Laurel Calendar

The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have agreed to the live racing dates and stakes schedule for the balance of 2009, including the return of the Grade I Frank J. De Francis Dash after a one-year hiatus.

 Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Laurel's Fall Stakes Schedule Approved

The fall stakes schedule for Laurel Park was approved Aug. 19 at the monthly Maryland Racing Commission meeting.

 Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Maryland Million Undercard Purses Increase

The purses of the Maryland Million Lassie and the Maryland Million Nursery â€" both races for two-year-olds formerly valued at $125,000 and run at Laurel Park on Maryland Million Day â€" will be boosted to $150,000 each this year.

 Monday, June 04, 2007

Thor's Echo Makes Case in De Francis Dash

TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) champion Thor's Echo, racing in the Superman silks of Suarez Racing, made his case for a 2006 Eclipse Award, repelling a menacing challenge from the unlucky Diabolical to win the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Saturday.

 Saturday, November 25, 2006

Thor's Echo 8-5 Choice in De Francis Dash

Thor's Echo, upset winner of the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) on Nov. 4, is the 8-5 morning line favorite after drawing the outside post among nine entered in the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Saturday.

 Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thor's Echo Leads De Francis Dash Nominees

Three of the top five finishers from the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) are among the 21 pre-entries for the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Nov. 25.

 Thursday, November 16, 2006

Chasing Eclipse, Thor's Echo to Run in Dash

Thor's Echo, who became just the second California-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race when he captured the 2006 TVG Sprint (gr. I) Saturday at Churchill Downs, is to remain in the East in quest of an Eclipse Award.

 Wednesday, November 08, 2006

I'm the Tiger Earns Stripes in De Francis Dash

Frank Stronach's homebred I'm the Tiger pounced on the lead for jockey Jerry Bailey and left his 13 foes well behind in the stretch en route to a surprisingly easy victory in the $300,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Saturday.

 Saturday, November 19, 2005

With Stars Missing, 18 Enter De Francis Dash

Lacking a clear standout, Tiger Heart, runner-up in last month's Vosburgh (gr. I), is the 7-2 morning line favorite among 18 sprinters entered for Saturday's $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park.

 Wednesday, November 16, 2005

BC Sprint Rivals Pre-Entered in DeFrancis Dash

Four of the top five finishers from last month's Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) are among the 31 pre-entries for the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Nov. 19.

 Thursday, November 10, 2005

A Huevo Euthanized After W. Va. Classic

A Huevo, a 9-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hopkins and winner of the 2003 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) was euthanized after being pulled up soon after the start and vanned off following the West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes the evening of Oct. 8. The son of Cool Joe had been the 1-2 favorite in the nine-furlong race at Charles Town Races and Slots.

 Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Wildcat Heir Digs In, Wins De Francis Dash

In spite of contesting just off a fast pace, New Farm's homebred Wildcat Heir had enough in the tank to hold off favored Midas Eyes by a neck in the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Pimlico Saturday.

 Sunday, November 21, 2004

A Huevo Scrambles Home in De Francis Dash

Mark Hopkins' A Huevo, a 7-year-old gelding making just his seventh career start, came with a rush from the outside near the sixteenth pole to register an upset of odds-on choice Shake You Down in the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Saturday.

 Sunday, November 16, 2003

Shake You Down Looks to One-Up De Francis Dash Rivals

Robert Cole Jr.'s Shake You Down heads a field of 10 in Saturday's $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I). The 4-5 morning line choice might be the most accomplished entry in the field, but he still has plenty to contend with.

 Friday, November 14, 2003

Shake You Down Headlines De Francis Dash

Shake You Down, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), headlines the 10 entries for Saturday's $300,000 De Francis Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park.

 Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Shake You Down Tops De Francis Dash

Led by multiple graded stakes winner Shake You Down, third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Oct. 25, a probable field of 11 is being pointed toward Saturday's Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park. The field for the $300,000 race at six furlongs will be drawn Wednesday.

 Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Boston Common Impressive in De Francis Prep

Friday's eighth race at Laurel Park could provide a candidate or two for next month's $300,000 De Francis Dash (gr. I), as two top contenders – Boston Common and Take Achance On Me – finished one-two in the $36,000 optional allowance test.

 Friday, October 31, 2003

Bailey Rides To The Queen in Laurel's Arundel

Maryland racing fans will get a rare treat on Saturday when Jerry Bailey rides To The Queen in the $100,000 Anne Arundel Stakes (gr. III) at Laurel Park for trainer Bill Mott.

 Thursday, December 12, 2002

From the Magazine: Delaware Township Exits on Top

A million-dollar international race doesn't usually serve as practice for a $300,000 stakes in Maryland. But following a script that was part wisdom and part luck, the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) turned out to be a dress rehearsal for the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) Nov. 17 at Laurel Park.

 Saturday, November 17, 2001

Kona Gold, Caller One Help 'Heat' Up Dash

Kona Gold, champion sprinter of 2000, was to board a plane in California Tuesday and fly to Maryland to take on Xtra Heat, the local heroine, in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Nov. 17 at Laurel Park.

 Tuesday, November 13, 2001