Lake, Feliciano send out battling duos

High-percentage trainers Scott Lake and Ben Feliciano Jr. will each send out two strong contenders in the $100,000 Dave's Friend at 5 1/2 furlongs, one of three stakes on Saturday's 10-race card at Laurel Park.

In addition to the Dave's Friend, which goes as race 8, there are a pair of $75,000, 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for Maryland-breds - the All Brandy for fillies and mares and the Find Handicap. First post time has been moved up to 11:15 a.m. Eastern.

The Dave's Friend often produces starters for the meet's premier race, the Grade 1 Frank De Francis Dash on Nov. 25. Last year, four horses who competed in the Dave's Friend came back three weeks later in the Dash.

Lake will saddle the uncoupled one-two punch of Outcashem, who has won 7 of 10 starts this season, including three stakes in West Virginia, and Ironton, a winner of both starts since he was claimed for $25,000 in September, highlighted by a career-best performance in the Maryland Million Sprint.

Feliciano has an equally strong hand with his uncoupled entry of Crafty Schemer and P. Kerney. Crafty Schemer, who has recorded six of his eight wins at Laurel, has posted four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last nine starts, including a victory in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit at Canterbury Park. P. Kerney, who is likely to challenge Outcashem for the early lead, has won stakes at Laurel, Charles Town, and Timonium this year. He shortens up in distance after showing high speed to deep stretch in a seven-furlong optional claimer at Laurel.

* Cozy Gain, who finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf contender Honey Ryder two starts ago at Delaware Park, appears to be the horse to beat in the All Brandy (race 7). Her uncoupled stablemate Sticky unsuccessfully chased BC Distaff favorite Fleet Indian twice during the summer on dirt, but ran well in her first try on turf in last month's Maryland Million Ladies.

* Private Scandal, D.J.'s Hero, and Quantico Joe - separated by less than three lengths in the Maryland Million Turf three weeks ago - clash again in the Find (race 10). The field also includes Legal Control, winner of the West Virginia Speaker's Cup at Mountaineer, and Irish Osprey, who won the Humphrey Finney.