Factor It In at top of his game for Dave's Friend repeat attempt

Factor It In’s career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure came in last year’s Dave’s Friend at Laurel Park, and he looks to go back-to-back in Saturday’s renewal for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

The Dave’s Friend is one of four $100,000 stakes on the program with the Robert T. Manfuso for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles, the Carousel for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, and the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 panels.

Factor It In captured three stakes and placed in two graded events over a five-race span between Oct. 1, 2022, and Jan. 21, 2023. Following a fifth-race finish as the favorite in the Frank Whiteley on April 15, trainer Carlos Mancilla gave the 7-year-old a break.

Since returning, Factor It In has finished third in a high-level allowance on Oct. 20 at Laurel, then was a sharp winner over muddy going Nov. 10.

“He’s come back 100 percent,” Mancilla said. “I think he’s going to do better” in this race.

Factor It In drew post 11, and while Mancilla said he preferred “to be in the middle,” he feels that his charge’s versatility is his best asset.

“He can go in front, he can go in back, whatever,” Mancilla said.

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Manny Wah parlayed a Grade 2 win in the 2022 Phoenix to a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He looks to rebound from four consecutive off-the-board finishes in his debut for trainer Will Walden.

Trainer Ray Ginter and owner Lynn Cash counter with two entrants. Millionaire Sir Alfred James finished fifth last month in the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs.

“That hard track at Churchill just wears on him,” Cash said.

Sir Alfred James has hit the board in his last four starts in Maryland.

Cash is excited to see Cowan compete.

“I don’t care what the numbers say, I think Cowan’s tougher,” Cash said. “This horse is a closing sprinter. You’ve got to stay” covered up as long as possible.

Greeley and Ben, a 24-time winner with earnings of $921,138, is still going strong at 9 after winning an allowance on Dec. 2 at Laurel.

The field is bolstered by the presence of stakes winners Dollarization, He’smyhoneybadger, No Cents, and Stage Left. Threes Over Deuces won the Dave’s Friend in 2021. Mystic O’Shaunesie and Nico complete the field.

Robert T. Manfuso

Be Better reeled off three consecutive victories earlier this year but hopes to snap a three-race losing streak in the Manfuso.

It’s fair to treat his last two races with grains of salt.

“We took him to Parx because he was doing good and he was ready to run, but I didn’t think that was going to be his cup of tea, necessarily,” trainer Brittany Russell told Daily Racing Form after Be Better finished fourth over that track on Oct. 17.

In his most recent start, Be Better was blocked badly. Once clear, he ran on for third. He’s won 4 of 5 starts at the 1 1/16-mile distance and should rally late.

Double Crown is one of two graded winners in the field, having upset the Kelso at 46-1 odds in 2022.

The 6-year-old gelding finished last of six in the Tinsel at Oaklawn Park last Saturday, but he’s hit the board in his last seven dirt races in Maryland, including a win in the Polynesian following a six-day break.

“I think I have to keep my guys out of the fast lane,” owner Cash admitted when talking about venues like Oaklawn “His [best races] have come back on six and seven days’ rest.”

Magic Michael took the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup in 2021, then finished second in that race last year. Freshened for almost a year due to nagging injuries, he’s won his last two starts, including one for the $55,000 claiming option on Dec. 8.

“He’s getting a little long in the tooth and we don’t really know if he’s still stakes quality or high-level allowance quality, so we’re going to find out on Saturday,” trainer Jamie Ness told track publicity.

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Stakes winners Offaly Cool and Ain’t Da Beer Cold should be part of the pace, while millionaire Forewarned is a one-run closer. Kinetic Sky ships from New York for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Luigi’s Spirit also is entered.

◗ Apple Picker faces elders for the first time after finishing an excellent second behind odds-on Howl in the Safely Kept on Nov. 25. She looks like an improving sort for Russell in the Willa On the Move.

Moody Woman returns to Laurel following a stakes victory at Mahoning Valley. Headland, cross-entered at Gulfstream on Saturday, looms the main speed if she goes here. Dream Chaser also is a contender.

◗ Russell also has a strong hand in the Carousel with the accomplished Hybrid Eclipse and the progressive Saddle Up Jessie as the two morning-line favorites.

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