Elusive Jazz, 5th in Cup, offers value

NEW YORK - The Grade 1, $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and the other six stakes on its Fall Festival of Racing program puts Laurel Park in the national stakes spotlight Saturday. The other graded stakes on Saturday's national stakes schedule, each ranked Grade 3, are the $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct, the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs, and the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue.

De Francis Dash

One of the critical variables in this race was resolved Thursday when Attila's Storm was able to draw in from the also-eligible list after the connections of Sensibly Chic opted to withdraw her from this event and start her instead in one of the undercard stakes. Attila's Storm, who was unable to crack the main body of this race at entry time because he lacked sufficient career earnings, may have been 45-1 last time out in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, but he ran a terrific race. He battled for the early lead with three other opponents, and was beaten a little more than three lengths in finishing fourth. And he did so after racing on the rail, which I believe was the deeper part of Belmont Park's main track on Breeders' Cup Day.

But even with Attila's Storm now in the field, I'm taking Elusive Jazz, who promises to offer excellent betting value. Elusive Jazz also comes out of the Breeders' Cup Sprint, in which he finished a decent fifth, an effort that proved his big win in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup at Keeneland two starts back was not an out-and-out fluke. In the Phoenix, Elusive Jazz scored decisively in good time (he earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure) after coming from a little off the pace, a style that fits nicely in this speed-filled field. And, the form of the Phoenix got a boost when runner-up Wild Tale, who is also in this race, came back to miss second by a neck in the Sport Page Handicap to Captain Squire, who previously won the Grade 1 Ancient Title.

Cardinal Handicap

The Southern California-based Stage Shy is likely in this race because of the lack of turf racing this fall at Hollywood Park, and she is a solid play. Stage Shy recently returned from a 14-month absence to face males in the Carleton F. Burke Handicap at Oak Tree, and only ran out of gas late after rallying to the lead in mid- stretch. She should be tougher second start back off that long layoff, is certainly suited by the move back in with members of her own sex, and will probably be more effective at this shorter distance.

Unfortunately, Stage Shy won't be a great price on the win end. But one to consider hooking her up with in exotic wagers is Sundrop. All three of Sundrop's starts in this country were in premier Grade 1 races, but after a disastrous outing in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, she may be overlooked in the betting. Sundrop did, however, make an intriguing middle move when fifth in the Flower Bowl two starts back, and can contend if able to run back to that effort.

Laurel Futurity

Wedding Singer and Rock Lobster are likely to be the first two betting favorites in this race, but neither is so invincible that taking a short price on them is the only option. Wedding Singer had trouble leaving the gate in all four of his starts, and a continuation of that habit could prove costly in a full field like this. Rock Lobster got a perfect trip when he won last time out, and to get another in a field as big as this is a lot to ask.

I'm going with Barbaro. Barbaro has raced only once, but it was a big win on the turf at Delaware Park from an outside post, an effort that takes on added meaning when you consider his trouble comment of "hard to load." Barbaro has every right to get better with experience, particularly being a son of Dynaformer, and mere routine improvement from his first start to his second puts him right in the ballpark with Wedding Singer and Rock Lobster. Plus, trainer Michael Matz's statistics in all the categories pertinent to this race jump off the page at you.

Saturday

Laurel: Laurel Futurity
2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, turf
Approximate post: Eastern-2:41 p.m., Central-1:41 p.m., Mountain-12:41 p.m., Pacific-11:41 p.m.; Laurel, Md., forecast: Sunny, 50¦

Track morning line odds

Churchill Downs: Cardinal Handicap
Fillies and mares, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles, turf
Approximate post: E-4:37 p.m., C-3:37 p.m., M-2:37 p.m., P-1:37 p.m.; Louisville, Ky., forecast: Sunny, 51¦

Track morning line odds

Laurel: Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash
3 and up, 6 furlongs
Approximate post: E-4:40 p.m., C-3:40 p.m., M-2:40 p.m., P-1:40 p.m.; Laurel, Md., forecast: Sunny, 50¦

Track morning line odds