Roadster tries to re-establish winning ways in Polynesian

Saturday’s Frank J. De Francis Memorial card at Laurel is bolstered by three $100,000 stakes races, including the Polynesian for older horses going a mile on the main track.

Roadster attempts to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2019 Santa Anita Derby. He came back from a year-plus layoff to finish a close fourth in the New Orleans Classic in his first start of 2021 before facing top handicap runner Maxfield in the Alysheba on April 30.

Trainer Michael Stidham mentioned some of the challenges he’s faced with the 5-year-old son of Quality Road. “He’s been tricky placing as far as distance goes. We’ve had off and on issues with his feet that we’ve had to correct.”

Stidham mentioned that he selected the Polynesian for Roadster because “competition-wise, it’s a fairly tough race, but not as tough as he has been running in the past and the one-turn mile seems to fit his distance situation.”

Stidham expects Mike Smith to have Roadster close to the pace after breaking from post position 6.

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Phat Man finished third behind 2019 Travers winner Code of Honor in the Philip H. Iselin last month. Phat Man was very wide on the backstretch and that was by design according to trainer Kent Sweezey.

“The instructions were to specifically keep him in the clear, if possible. I think that’s what cost him. Going wide on both turns, he tried really hard. He’s a really big horse and can’t stop and start like a small horse can. He seemed to run better when he’s on the outside.”

Cordmaker, Alwaysmining, Captain Bombastic, McElmore Avenue, and Tappin Cat, the potential pacesetter, round out the quality field.

Twixt

The only time trainer Mike Miceli shipped New York-bred Mrs. Orb out of the Empire State resulted in a $100,000 stakes victory at Pimlico on the Fourth of July. That race worked out so well that Miceli brings the 6-year-old mare back to Maryland for another go, this time in the Twixt for fillies and mares at a one-turn mile.

Recently, Mrs. Orb finished third in the Saratoga Dew for New York-breds. Miceli believes the mare had trouble.

“It was a speed-favoring track and I think the bias was against her,” he said. “She ran up in behind horses at the half-mile pole and had to steady a little, and then she worked her way out.”

Miceli feels the Twixt could be a stepping-stone to a race like the $250,000 Empire Distaff at Belmont on Oct. 30.

So Darn Hot also vans down from New York after a third-place finish behind Grade 2 winner Horologist in the Summer Colony. So Darn Hot has run well since trainer George Weaver added blinkers.

“She’s always been a little aloof, a little lazy by herself,” said Weaver. “I just thought it might help the rider keep her interested early and keeping her mind on business.”

Weaver also noted that he “might like her a little bit better around one turn. I’m looking forward to cut back to a mile.”

Brad Cox enters Dreamalildreamofu after a disappointing effort as the favorite in the Groupie Doll. A stakes winner on Polytrack, the Commissioner filly is also Grade 3-placed on both dirt and synthetic.

Trainer Michael Trombetta saddles both Villanelle and Lookin Dynamic following off-turf victories at Colonial and Pimlico, respectively. Villanelle, a daughter of Curlin and Grade 3 winner Gamay Noir, will make her second start for the barn. Lookin Dynamic returns from a two-month layoff and is “training remarkably well,” according to Trombetta.

Grade 1-placed Off Topic makes her first start for trainer Phil Schoenthal after being purchased for $570,000 at the Keeneland January sale. Josie, Miss Leslie, and Artful Splatter also entered. Artful Splatter, second in this race last year, looms the primary pacesetter.

Weathervane

Hello Beautiful will be the card’s biggest favorite when the multiple stakes winner faces four other fillies and mares in the Weathervane at six furlongs.

Trained by Brittany Russell, Maryland-bred Hello Beautiful has won half of her 16 starts, including six stakes. Sent away at 1-10 in the Alma North on July 31, Hello Beautiful gave her backers an anxious moment when she stumbled one stride out of the gate. She quickly righted the ship, however, scooted to the front and was never threatened.

If the favorite underperforms, Trombetta’s Never Enough Time might have the best upset chance. Stakes-placed going seven furlongs at Colonial, Never Enough Time cuts back to her favorite distance.

Trombetta cross-entered Fifteen Royals in a turf race on Friday but said that he will run her in the Weathervane. Praise and Honor and Coconut Cake complete the field.