Wondrwherecraigis tries De Francis Dash a third time

Trainer Brittany Russell is hoping the third time’s the charm for Wondrwherecraigis in Saturday’s $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for 3-year-olds and up motoring six furlongs at Laurel Park.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Munnings, Wondrwherecraigis finished first in the 2021 De Francis only to be disqualified and placed second for stretch interference. He was second again in this race last summer, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the salty Beren.

A Grade 3 winner with more than $500,000 in career earnings, Wondrwherecraigis placed sixth of nine in his most recent start, the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint on May 20 at Pimlico.

“That was a tough race,” Russell said. “A really good horse [Straight No Chaser] ran fast.”

Russell originally intended to run Wondrwherecraigis back in an open allowance, but the race didn’t fill.

A versatile performer who has won from on or near the lead, Wondrwherecraigis might be close to the pace Saturday.

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“You have to play the break,” Russell added. “If he leaves there running like he has, you probably have to take it to them.”

Wondrwherecraigis became Russell’s first graded stakes winner when he captured the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park in 2021. Lightening Larry, the potential De Francis favorite, was trainer Jorge Delgado’s first graded winner.

Since his victory in last year’s Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico, Lightening Larry has won three more stakes, including Monmouth Park’s Mr. Prospector on May 29 and Delaware Park’s Alapocas Run on July 1.

“We’ve put him in races to build his confidence,” Delgado told track publicity earlier this week. “He’s put up good numbers and he’s running fast times, and he’s happy. The way he’s training right now, I believe he’s one of the best older sprinters in the country.”

Seven-year-old Synthesis has been in career form for trainer David Jacobson. He earned a 104 Beyer three back when winning for an $80,000 claiming option at Belmont, then rebounded from a last-place effort in the Grade 2 True North to run second in Belmont’s John A. Nerud on July 1.

“I think he’ll be running at the end,” Jacobson told track publicity. “I wish it was a little further. Six and a half or seven-eighths is really his best distance, but he can get it done at three-quarters,”

Synthesis is cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

Sir Wellington, second in the Alapocas Run, has hit the board in his last four starts for trainer Mac Robertson, including a win in Oaklawn Park’s Lake Hamilton Stakes on May 6. He should be part of the early pace.

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Threes Over Deuces, an 8-year-old with 20 runner-up finishes in his career, enters after winning two of his last three starts, including a game allowance score on June 14 at Delaware. A multiple stakes winner by Flat Out, Threes Over Deuces is expected to rally from off the pace.

Ladneedsahandler, a gate-to-wire winner of his most recent start, is cross-entered in a Sunday allowance at Laurel. Holy Synchronicty drew the far outside post.

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