Greatbullsoffire brings stakes credentials into Christopher Elser Memorial

The $75,000 Christopher Elser Memorial on Saturday at Parx Racing near Philadelphia matches Greatbullsoffire, who has won three of four starts, all in Maryland and Delaware, against The Walk, a Belmont Park maiden winner.

The Elser, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds which drew a field of eight, is restricted to horses who have spent a minimum of 90 days in South Carolina. The Donna Freyer, the filly version of the Elser Memorial, failed to fill after attracting only four entrants.

Greatbullsoffire is trained by Hamilton Smith, a native of South Carolina whose younger brother Franklin owns the Elloree Training Center there and is well known as a developer of young horses.

Greatbullsoffire, a Maryland-bred, is a two-time stakes winner. Following a debut victory at Laurel Park, the son of Bullsbay was sent to Delaware Park, where he won the Strike Your Colors Stakes. He comes into the Elser Memorial off an amazing win in the Maryland Million Nursery.

Greatbullsoffire, the even-money favorite, tracked the early pace in the six-furlong Nursery, bid for the lead on the turn, but could not keep pace with Dancing With Maude, who ran by him and opened up a 1 1/2-length lead. Greatbullssoffire persevered and came back on to retake the lead in deep stretch, winning by a head.

The Walk, trained by Tom Albertrani, won a Belmont Park maiden race by a length in September. He has since finished fourth, beaten 10 lengths by Theory, in the Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont. The Walk, a $200,0000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, races for West Point Thoroughbreds.

Hotfoot is owned by Dogwood Stable, which has deep roots in Aiken, S.C. He enters the Elser Memorial off a 9 1/2-length victory in a $62,500 maiden-claiming race at Belmont for trainer Gary Contessa.

O Dionysus is a son of Bodemeister who races for the Marathon Farms of Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, and is trained by Gary Capuano. O Dionysus won first time out at Laurel Park and has since finished second and third in first-level optional-claiming company. He will be first-time Lasix in the Elser Memorial.