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. The Dash headlines the "Fall Festival of Racing" card that features eight added money races, including three other six-figure races. The post-position draw for the 10-race card will be Wednesday.Attila's Storm and Elusive Jazz who finished fourth and fifth in the Sprint at Belmont Park, are likely to run in the De Francis Dash. Runner-up Taste Of Paradise and third place finisher Lion Tamer might opt for the Cigar Mile (gr. I) on Nov. 26 at Aqueduct. Trainer Richard Dutrow, who won the Sprint with Silver Train, is expected to ship Vosburgh (gr. I) runner-up Tiger Heart to Laurel for the De Francis with former Maryland riding star Edgar Prado in the saddle.
Local star Gators N Bears will make his final career start for owner-trainer Leo Nechamkin. The 5-year old, who will stand in 2006 at Maryland Stallion Station, will run in his third consecutive Dash. The son of Stormy Atlantic has finished in the money 24 times in 31 career starts with earnings in excess of $800,000.
