Shake You Down Tops De Francis Pre-Entries

Shake You Down, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, headlines the 26 pre-entries for next Saturday's $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park, the signature race of the fall meet.

The Dash tops the fall festival racing card that features six added money races, including a pair of grade III's (Laurel Futurity and Anne Arundel) and the $100,000 Selima Stakes.

Based at Laurel Park under the care of conditioner Luigi Gino for two years, the 5-year old Shake you Down was claimed by Scott Lake for owner Robert Cole, a Howard County resident, in March for $65,000. Now based at Lake's Belmont Park barn, Shake You Down has won six of eight, including three graded sprints this spring. Last month at Santa Anita in the $1million Breeders' Cup Sprint, the son of Montbrook was a game third after helping set record fractions. He has four victories in Maryland from 13 starts, but all were at Pimlico. Shake You Down raced twice at Laurel Park this winter, including a third place finish at the distance.

Other pre-entries include two other horses who ran in the Breeders' Cup Sprint: Midas Eyes (eighth), from the Bobby Frankel barn and Private Horde (ninth). Three horses who competed in last year's Dash have also been nominated: Deer Run (second), Outstander (fourth) and Boston Common (sixth). Other high profile horses nominated include grade I winners Peeping Tom and Gygistar.

The $100,000 Laurel Futurity garnered 27 two-year old colts and geldings on the pre-entry, while 20 three-year old fillies were nominated to the $100,000 Anne Arundel Stakes.