Richter Scale Dashes Track Record

Richter Scale earned his first grade I win and broke Laurel Park's track record for six furlongs, winning the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday. The 6-year-old completed the distance in 1:07.95 over a fast track which was playing very fast in the latter races Saturday. In the race following the De Francis Dash, the $75,000 Montpelier Stakes for 3-year-olds, Disco Rico ran six furlongs in 1:08.06 to win by a neck over Max's Pal.

Richter Scale sprinted to the early lead, running an opening quarter of :22.02, and maintained a head lead over Falkenburg after a half in :44.46. Richter Scale opened up along the rail at the top of the stretch under left-handed urging from jockey Richard Migliore and cruised past the wire under a hand ride. Just Call Me Carl finished second, a neck in front of Falkenburg with Intidab another neck back in fourth.

"I had a lot of confidence in him, said Migliore. "He's the best pure sprinter I've ever been around in my life. I've never been on a horse that does things quite so easy.''

Over his five-year career, Richter Scale (Habitony--Devine Pet, by Bel Bolide) has won five grade II and two grade III races while compiling 12 wins from 24 starts. Previous to the De Francis Dash, he finished sixth in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) after having won both the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) and Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship Handicap (gr. II). Richter Scale earned $180,000 for owners Richard and Nancy Kaster and Nathan Fox for the win, bringing his career bankroll over the $1-million mark. He is trained by Mary Jo Lohmeier and was bred in California by Clydene Boots.

The odds-on choice in the four-horse field, Richter Scale paid $3.20 and $2.40. Just Call Me Carl returned $3.20 and completed an exacta worth $9.20. There was no show wagering. (Chart, Equibase)