Laurel Park: Eight in Dave's Friend

Older sprinters face off in Saturday's $50,000 Dave's Friend Stakes.

Eight entered the six-furlong Dave's Friend, including last year's runner-up, Deer Run.

Pioneer Boy is in top form for owner Michael Gill and trainer John Robb. The gelding won the Rapid Transit Stakes at Canterbury Park on July 19 in his last start. He worked sharply at Laurel on Aug. 1, covering five furlongs in a bullet 58.20 seconds.

Pioneer Boy and Crossing Point both have early speed, which could set up things nicely for Deer Run.

An intriguing runner is A Huevo, who hasn't run since October 1999 because of a series of leg injuries. Trainer Michael Dickinson cross-entered A Huevo in Saturday's $85,000 Harvey Arneault Memorial at Mountaineer.

A Huevo won his first three career starts at Delaware Park in eye-catching fashion. In his last race, he finished first in the West Virginia Breeders' Classic but was disqualified because of a clenbuterol positive.