De Francis Dash field still coming together

The $350,000 De Francis Memorial Dash is the headliner on a card that will include six stakes next Saturday at Laurel Park. Stakes purses for the day will total $850,000.

The De Francis Dash field was still in flux on Friday, according to Coley Blind, stakes coordinator for the Maryland Jockey Club. He said a number of his best nominees had just raced in the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31.

“It depends how quickly those horses recover from their races,” he said.

Linda Rice said this week she was considering Palace for the six-furlong Dash. She also has nominated La Verdad, the runner-up in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. David Jacobson has made both Salutos Amigos and Stallwalkin’ Dude eligible. The two horses were fifth and eighth in the BC Sprint.

Other possibilities include Gallant Bob winner Trouble Kid, trained by Ramon Preciado; Gentlemen’s Bet, trained by Ron Moquett; and Maryland Million Sprint winner Jack’s in the Deck, trained by Robin Graham. Jacobson also has nominated Heaven’s Runway, who was third in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on Oct. 31.

The day’s other stakes, all of which have $100,000 purses, are the James Lewis and Smart Halo, six-furlong races for 2-year-olds; the City of Laurel and Safely Kept, seven-furlong races for 3-year-olds and up; and the 1 1/8-mile Richard Small for 3-year-olds and up.