Marq French the last of Von Hemel's six-pack

Friday morning was the calm before the storm for trainer Donnie Von Hemel, who was preparing six horses for five stakes races around the Midwest. He will close out his run Sunday at Remington Park, where Marq French will start as a top choice in the $50,000 Silver Goblin. The 6 1/2-furlong race for Oklahoma-breds drew a field of seven.

Before the busy Von Hemel saddles Marq French, he will send out Brownie Points in the Grade 3 Gardenia at Ellis Park on Saturday, and four horses in three stakes the same afternoon at Louisiana Downs.

"Hopefully, we'll get something done with them," he said of all his weekend stakes starters.

Marq French will be making his first start since May in the Silver Goblin. The freshening was by design, to have the horse on target for the Remington meet. Last year, Marq French won 3 of 4 starts at the track, including a pair of statebred stakes races. Marq French last raced at Lone Star, finishing a close sixth in the $50,000 Ford Express.

"He wasn't out that long and he has had a number of good works back, so we would expect a good effort," said Von Hemel.

Marq French will be ridden by Tim Doocy, who was aboard for victories in last year's $50,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint and $50,000 Osage Hills, both at Remington. Marq French, who has natural speed, could get a nice tracking trip from post 7.

Duh Nutts should also be prominent. Never beaten in a one-turn race at Remington, he returns to the Oklahoma City track from Lone Star, where he was second in a second-level allowance on July 5.

Duh Nutts was a 12-length maiden winner at Remington last September, then one start later romped by 12 lengths in the $50,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile. Trainer Joe Petalino has given the mount to Luis Quinonez.

Also in the field is multiple stakes winner Zee Oh Six, in his first start since November.

o Oklahoma tracks presented their dates requests for 2008 during an Oklahoma Racing Commission meeting on Thursday. Remington is seeking a 67-date Thoroughbred meet from Aug. 21 through Dec. 14, 2008. This year, the meet opened Aug. 2. Action could be taken at the commission's next meeting, in October.