De Francis Dash

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Much of the build-up to Saturday’s $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash
S. (G1) has centered upon the rematch between TALENT SEARCH (Catienus) and BENNY
THE BULL (Lucky Lionel), the respective third-and fourth-place finishers from
the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). In order to soften up the speed-burning Talent
Search and set the table for the deep-closing Benny the Bull, trainer Richard
Dutrow has entered HOLLY TIME (Gilded Time) as a rabbit. The projected speed
meltdown would just as easily benefit MIRACULOUS MISS (Mr. Greeley), so we’ll
take a stab with the classy filly at 8-1 on the morning line.

Conditioned by Steve Klesaris, Miraculous Miss employed her terrific late
kick to capture the Forward Gal S. (G2), Comely S. (G2) and Endine H. (G3) last
year. The chestnut didn’t make her 2007 debut until July and chose a tough spot
for her reappearance, the Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder. Still, Miraculous
Miss rallied for a sneakily good fifth, beaten a total of 3 1/4 lengths, and then
got up for third in the Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga. She may not have really
enjoyed the synthetic surface when finishing an uncharacteristically one-paced
fourth in the Presque Isle Downs Masters S., but she has turned in two excellent
efforts since returning to the conventional dirt. After closing well to miss by
a nose in the My Juliet S., she uncorked another late charge to fall a
half-length short in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Miraculous Miss is
good enough on her day to win this six-furlong event, and given the belated
start to her season, she could finally be hitting her best stride. We look for
her to upstage the males at Laurel beneath a returning Jeremy Rose.

Benny the Bull will also come rolling late with Edgar Prado, but we’re a
little disconcerted by his tendency to break poorly. That compromised his
chances in his first outing for Dutrow, when he wound up fourth in the Alfred G.
Vanderbilt H. (G2), and in the Sprint last time out, when he hit the gate. If
the dark bay runs back to his best, such as his sparkling runner-up effort to
presumptive sprint champion Midnight Lute (Real Quiet) in the Forego S. (G1),
he’ll be very difficult to beat. At 9-5 on the morning line, though, Benny the
Bull doesn’t offer much value for a horse who sometimes causes his own trouble.

Talent Search held on for third in the Sprint after setting a pressured pace.
A similar scenario has unfolded on a couple of other occasions as well. In the
Vosburgh S. (G1) two back, he plugged on for a game second after being dismissed
in a speed duel with the ultra-impressive Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike), and
back in May, he succumbed to Diabolical (Artax) in the Maryland Breeders’ Cup
Sprint H. (G3). In contrast, Talent Search’s stakes victories have come when he
was able to dictate to inferior opponents. That won’t happen here, so as much as
we respect the Mark Shuman charge, we think he’ll be worn down late.

SAINT ANDDAN (A.P. Indy) is intriguing in his first start for Anthony Dutrow.
Formerly with Bobby Frankel, the well-bred bay landed the Churchill Downs S.
(G2) on Kentucky Derby Day and most recently finished third in the Phoenix S.
(G3) at Keeneland. Saint Anddan should benefit from a stalking trip beneath
Ramon Dominguez, and he promises to get first run on the deep closers. We won’t
leave the 8-1 shot out of our exotics, but we’re not thrilled by the fact that
he’s the co-highweight at 122 pounds, giving four apiece to Benny the Bull and
Talent Search and seven to Miraculous Miss.

WILL HE SHINE (Silver Deputy) hasn’t looked the same since picking up the
pieces in a rough running of the True North H. (G2) on Belmont Day. The recent
switch to Steve Asmussen could spark a form reversal, but we’d prefer to watch
before endorsing. Tom Fool Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) winner HIGH FINANCE (Talk Is
Money) has been positively abysmal in his two subsequent starts. While we
wouldn’t be shocked to see the Rick Violette trainee turn things around, we’re
leery of him at present.

HI TIME SCOTT (Regal Humor) looks overmatched. Holly Time will do his job
early and call it a day in the stretch.