Dean Delivers leads all the way in Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash

LAUREL, MD – Trainer Ned Allard beamed in the winner’s circle after his Dean Delivers led the field every step of the way in Sunday’s $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for 3-year-olds and upward racing six furlongs at Laurel Park.

“It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win,” Allard said. “I started coming to [Maryland] all through the 60s with George Handy. And then one of my early stakes wins was closing day at Bowie with a horse named Mr. Cornerstone. But this particular sprint has always been on my bucket list.”

Dean Delivers, the 126-pound highweight, broke quickly under jockey Jaime Rodriguez and cleared to the lead and the rail through fractions of 22.50 and 45.43 seconds while pressured from the outside by 42-1 longshot Five Dreams.

Favored Dean Delivers created separation turning into the Laurel stretch, but Five Dreams refused to cave. The outsider gradually rerallied, only to fall three-quarters of a length short after six furlongs in 1:10.10.

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Gordion Knot rallied from last for third and was followed under the wire by Prince of Jericho, Little Vic, Sibelius and Seven’s Eleven. Alwaysinahurry, Awesome Aaron and Twisted Ride scratched.

Dean Delivers returned $4.80 to win. It was the second stakes victory for the team of Allard, Rodriguez, and owner-breeder Stonehedge LLC after their Sunny Breeze captured the Concern earlier in the afternoon.

A 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Cajun Breeze, Dean Delivers is a half-brother to multiple Grade 3-placed dirt performer Zimba Warrior. He made the first 21 starts of his career for trainer Michael Yates and enjoyed good success winning the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream last summer.

After finishing off the board in his first two starts this year, Dean Delivers was transferred to Allard’s Delaware barn.

“He started to tail off [in Florida],” Allard mentioned before Dean Delivers grabbed Delaware’s Alapocas Run on July 6. “I thought he needed a little break and maybe cooler temperatures. When he came [to me], he was a little quiet. The cooler weather just completely changed him.”

Dean Delivers dominated seven others in his first start for Allard, an eight-length win in Monmouth’s Mr. Prospector over sloppy going on May 27.

“I thought he ran a monster race,” Allard said.

Extremely hot weather didn’t bother Dean Delivers in the Alapocas Run, and he handled today’s steamy conditions with aplomb.

“He’s put on some weight, he looks great, and he’s running great,” Allard said after the De Francis.

Dean Delivers has now won 8 of 24 starts for lifetime earnings of $727,600.

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