Forest Park to face big boys after Moscarelli

Despite his gaudy 8-for-10 lifetime record, Forest Park has yet to face the East Coast's top sprinters. Assuming he runs well in Saturday's $100,000 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial at Delaware Park, Forest Park will dive into much deeper waters.

Trainer Mike Pino, who admits he has pampered so far by picking his spots, has Nov. 19 circled on his calendar. That's the date of the Grade 1 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park.

"Our long-term goal from the beginning of the year has been the De Francis," Pino said. "If he has a strong effort on Saturday and he comes out of the race in good shape, the De Francis will likely be our next stop."

The De Francis would represent a major class jump for Forest Park, a 4-year-old who didn't begin his racing career until last October.

"I have tried to manage him through stages, especially early in his career so we would try to pick the right spots for him so he could develop," Pino said. "His talent has come out. Right now, he has got everything in him to make me look good, but I feel he has more."

Forest Park's stiffest competition will come from a three-horse uncoupled entry from Scott Lake's barn. Lake cross-entered Toscani in a $36,000 starter allowance at Belmont Park on Friday, where he would be the 124-pound highweight. He also has Spooky Mulder and Jumpstarter for the Moscarelli.

Lake indicated that he will likely run two of his three runners.

"Which two, I don't know," Lake said. "I will definitely run Jumpstarter and possibly also Spooky Mulder. I have got to sit down with all three owners and figure out a game plan."

, a 5-year-old, matched his career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102 when he won a $50,000 optional claimer at Delaware a month ago.

Spooky Mulder, a winner of 22 races and $551,065, recorded a 108 Beyer when he won a $100,000 optional claimer at Belmont on Sept. 10.

, who finished a neck behind Forest Park when they met in an allowance in June, wired $75,000 optional claimers, earning a 113 Beyer, in his most recent start.

"Toscani is doing great," Lake said. "We're shooting for the De Francis Dash for him next. We're just trying to figure out which spot would be best for him; whether shipping him to New York and running in the starter there or staying home and running over our home track."