Beren Steps Up in Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash
Image:
Description:
Photo: Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club
Beren cruises home in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park
St. Omer's Farm and Christopher Feifarek's Beren , second in each of his last three races but never by more than a length, stepped up and ran the biggest race of his life July 16 in the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park.
Overlooked at odds of 6-1 in a field of eight, Beren raced between graded stakes winners Special Reserve and Wondrwherecraigis before taking command nearing the stretch and drawing off to win by 2 3/4 lengths. He completed six furlongs in 1:09.66 over a main track turned muddy following a mid-afternoon thunderstorm. It was his fifth stakes victory.
"He came into the race great," trainer Robert E. "Butch" Reid Jr. said. "We wouldn't be here if he were any other way, and he's a game horse. All you have to do is point him in the right direction and get out of his way."
#7 BEREN wins the $150K Frank De Francis Memorial Dash, ridden by @jockeyfrankie, trained by Butch Reid! Congrats to the connections!
1 more race to come from Laurel on TVG!
Tune in now for live coverage & get involved at https://t.co/nBYFHj6ufh! pic.twitter.com/PxolDpk4X0— TVG (@TVG) July 16, 2022
Beren, a 4-year-old son of Weigelia , was flanked by Special Reserve to his inside and Wondrwherecraigis on the far outside. The three broke together, and Special Reserve led after a :22.10 opening quarter in his first start since finishing fourth in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last November.
Frankie Pennington settled Beren between horses as Wondrwherecraigis, racing for the first time since running 10th in the March 26 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Atlantis Dubai (G1), pressed on the outside. The half went in :44.78, when Beren found himself in front and Special Reserve dropping back.
"He's a very quick horse and he doesn't have to be on the lead," Pennington said. "He broke sharp and the horse to the inside went to the lead, so I sat off. He was pulling me the whole way. At the top of the stretch when I asked him, he took off for me and I knew we were pretty good."
Beren straightened for home on top but still had to contend with 4-5 favorite Wondrwherecraigis, who was taken down from first to second in last year's De Francis for drifting out late in the stretch. Sheldon Russell kept the 5-year-old gelding on a straight path but they were unable to catch the winner.
"I was watching it closely and Frankie looked like he was very confident," Reid said. "He sat off the inside horse a little bit, and fortunately the outside took back a hair, so he had some breathing room and it worked out perfect. We did get a break with that little bit of rain. This is his favorite kind of track, with a little bit of moisture and sealed like this."
Wondrwherecraigis was two lengths ahead of grade 3 winner Pickin' Time in third, with another length back to 30-1 shot War Tocsin in fourth. Threes Over Deuces , Royal Urn , Special Reserve and Karan's Notion completed the order of finish.
Beren paid $15 to win and increased his earnings to $609,420. He was bred in Pennsylvania by Susan C Quick & Christopher J Feifarek out of the grade 3-winning Diamond mare Silmaril, herself an earner of more than $1 million on the Maryland circuit from 2003-08. He is the first black-type winner out of the mare, who dropped a full brother to Beren in 2021 and was reported bred back to Weigelia for 2022.
"(Beren) doesn't have to prove anything. He owes us nothing," Reid said. "He's a very tough runner. I wish they were all like him. He's a total class act. He ships perfectly and stood in the paddock perfectly today. Nothing bothers this horse."