Jac’s Fact back against statebreds in Lewis Memorial

Jac’s Fact, a two-time stakes winner this season, looks formidable in his return to restricted company Saturday in the $75,000 George Lewis Memorial at ThistleDown.

The 1 1/8-mile Lewis, restricted to Ohio-accredited horses, goes as race 7 at 3:55 p.m. Eastern with a field of eight, including three females.

The 4-year-old Jac’s Fact saw his three-race winning streak snapped when he shipped to Mountaineer and finished last of five in a no-conditions allowance race. He had won four of his previous five starts at a mile or longer, including the 1 1/8-mile Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap at Mahoning Valley last December and the 1 1/16-mile Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap at Belterra Park in mid-June.

Deniro’s Saint successfully challenged males to win last year’s Lewis Memorial as the 8-5 favorite. In her only start since then, the 5-year-old Deniro’s Saint was a non-threatening fourth going 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track.

Uncle Virgil, claimed out of each of his last two starts, was third in the 2013 Lewis Memorial and fourth last year. He is seeking to snap a 16-race losing streak, his last win having come in the 2013 running of the Ruff/Kirchberg at Beulah Park.

Key contenders

Jac’s Fact (Last 3 Beyers: 64-78-77)

* He concedes six to nine pounds to his rivals, but his four victories this season have come when he carried 122 to 124 pounds, so Saturday’s assignment of 122 pounds shouldn’t be a burden. He’s by far the fastest horse on paper.

Deniro’s Saint (Last 3 Beyers: 60-65-68)

* She ran the two best races of her 18-race career when winning back-to-back stakes last summer but then was given 11 months off. She gets nine pounds from Jac’s Fact but will have to run considerably faster than the 65 Beyer Speed Figure she posted in winning last year’s Lewis Memorial.

Plain Ol’ Willard (Last 3 Beyers: 42-42-45)

* Has yet to regain the good form that enabled him to win two stakes and finish second in another to close out his 2014 campaign. No visible clues that he’s ready to produce a dramatic form reversal.

Uncle Virgil (Last 3 Beyers: 30-48-51)

* Despite the long losing streak and dismal past-performance lines, people must think that the 6-year-old has potential since he was claimed for $8,000 and $7,500 during June. His latest trainer, Dominic Giglio, is winning at a 29 percent clip this season and is 4 for 10 at ThistleDown, so the horse merits respect despite his poor form.