BackTrack: Montbrook Finds New Way in De Francis Dash

In conjunction with Tom Hall's Look Back feature in BloodHorse Daily, BloodHorse.com each Thursday will present historic race stories from the pages of the magazine. 

This week is a recap of Montbrook's victory in the 1993 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) at Laurel Park. The recap, written by Rick Snider, ran in the July 31, 1993 magazine. It carried the headline, "As Tough as It Gets."

In his relatively short career as a racehorse, Montbrook had never trailed in the opening half-mile of a race. So when he was fourth early in the $300,000 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. III) July 25, jockey Jo Jo Ladner might have panicked. Instead, Ladner cooly decided to wait for an opening in the lane rather than vie for the lead. When rivals tired from the blistering heat and pace, Montbrook took command approaching the eighth pole and went on to an upset victory.

"The other horses were really running, so I let my horse settle back just a bit," Ladner said. "I didn't make (a pre-race) decision to rate him. It just sort of happened like that."

Ladner found his opening at the three-sixteenths pole at Laurel Park when leaders Secret Odds and Meafara were tiring, and Montbrook quickly dispatched both in finishing a half-length ahead of Lion Cavern, with Flaming Emperor third. Montbrook covered six furlongs in 1:08 3/5.

"This was a new experience for Montbrook. He's never had mud and dirt kicked in his face," Ladner said. "He handled it well."

The De Francis, the nation's second-richest sprint race behind the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), drew perhaps its strongest overall field ever. The field of nine included Senor Speedy, Secret Odds, Lion Cavern, and Bolulight and had only one horse rated higher than 15-1. The crowd of 14,013 made Lion Cavern the choice off two consecutive victories in this country following two years of competition against top company in France and England.

"I don't think the Breeders' Cup Sprint will be that much tougher than this," said Senor Speedy's jockey, Jerry Bailey. "This race is as tough as it gets."

Montbrook was rated 6-1, partly because he's trained at Laurel. The 3-year-old colt by Buckaroo--Secret Papers, by Jet Diplomacy, certainly brought some improving credentials. Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud Farms and purchased by Israel Cohen for $260,000 at the 1992 Ocala Breeders' Sales February 2-year-olds in training sale, Montbrook didn't race until Feb. 11 of this year, winning his debut by 13 1/2 lengths. Going into the De Francis he had won four of seven races, including the Riva Ridge Stakes (G3) June 5 at Belmont Park and the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Handicap June 27 at Atlantic City.

But Montbrook had an easy pace in both races to outlast late challengers. This time there was legitimate speed in the field that posed a threat to his usual style. Ladner was willing to take the early lead, but after Montbrook broke slowly, he decided to take his time.

"I was pretty confident that my horse would be able to get to the leaders, and I still had a horse full of run," Ladner said. "In fact, when we caught the leaders I had to slow him down for a couple of steps."

Secret Odds set the early pace of :21 3/5 and :44 3/5 and led by a length over Parisian Flight and Meafara. Montbrook was 4 1/2 lengths back after a quarter-mile--the farthest any De Francis winner had trailed at that point--then moved sharply on the turn along the rail. Parisian Flight, second in the 1992 De Francis, and Secret Odds tired badly in the stretch, and Ladner took Montbrook off the rail and quickly caught Secret Odds. He was never pressured despite a late bid by Lion Cavern.

"I was a little worried at the top of the lane because there wasn't much room," said Ladner, whose victory in the De Francis was the biggest of his career. "All I had to do was get him through an opening. He dug right in. I was real confident because three-quarters is his best distance."

Trainer Dean Gaudet, who was at the track but did not saddle Montbrook or visit the winner's circle, was unavailable for comment. Assistant Gene Leach said: "We really thought we'd win today. He was training very well."

Lion Cavern left poorly and didn't start challenging until the final quarter when passing four rivals for second.

"My horse ran a real good race," trainer Bill Mott said. "He didn't switch leads, and that looked like it cost us the race."

Flaming Emperor finished third after reluctantly being entered by trainer Kenny Cox, who thought the 7-year-old gelding might be outclassed.

"This horse has been real good to us," owner Buddy Cox said. "I thought my horse had a chance to run well, and he proved it."

Senor Speedy, who was pointed for the De Francis after winning the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap May 15, was expected to benefit from a fast early pace. Senor Speedy was last entering the stretch, and wound up fifth.

"We had no racing room," Bailey said. "I wasn't blocked, but there was just no room. He was flying the last part. One hundred yards past the wire he was in front. There just wasn't enough room."

Jockey Ron Hansen said the tightly packed field, which measured 5 1/2 lengths between the first and eighth finishers, compromised Bolulight's chances in finishing sixth.

"I didn't have much room on the turn," Hansen said. "When I sat him down, he ran evenly. He just wasn't as fast from the gate as those other horses."