Zee Bros Posts Surprise in De Francis Dash

Zayat Stables' Zee Bros pulled a 29-1 upset in the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes Nov. 16 at Laurel Park after taking charge off the far turn and sprinting clear in the stretch .

 

Ridden by Jose Ortiz for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Zee Bros won by 2 3/4 lengths from Happy My Way, with Bern Identity three-quarters of a length farther back in third. Dads Caps, the 6-5 favorite in the eight-horse field, was a head back in fourth after threatening in early stretch. 

 

Zee Bros covered six furlongs in 1:08.77 on a fast track, less than a second off Richter Scale's track record of 1:07.95.

 

The De Francis Dash anchored Laurel's Fall Festival of Racing card that included five other stakes, each worth $100,000.

 

A 4-year-old son of Brother Derek  , Zee Bros was making his fourth start for Lukas in the De Francis Dash. The colt won going gate to wire by 5 1/4 lengths in an Oct. 17 allowance race at Keeneland in his previous start, halting a nine-race winless skid. 

 

"We got this horse right after the Saratoga meet," assistant trainer Tim Austin said. "It took a few weeks to figure him out but in his last four workouts, I know they saw a big improvement in him. This horse is really doing well right now."

 

Favorite Tale was out to lead early, with Zee Bros chasing from second, about a length back and three deep during the opening furlong. He willingly engaged the leader rounding the far turn and took the lead near the five-sixteenths pole and quickly opened up a clear advantage. Dads Caps menaced to his outside in early stretch but Zee Bros was too strong. 

 

"Mr. Lukas told me that this horse had the talent and the speed, to make sure that we broke well and go after it," Ortiz said. "I kept him exactly where he needed to be and when I asked him he gave me all that I needed. I was pretty sure I had them beat about half-way down the stretch."

 

Lukas enjoyed a second De Francis Dash win after taking the race in 1999 with Yes It's True  .

 

Ortiz was originally scheduled to ride La Verdad, who was scratched. He picked up the winning mount for the injured Alex Cintron, who suffered multiple facial fractures, including a broken jaw, in a spill at the previous day. Cintron is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

 

Zee Bros paid $60.20, $22, and $8.20 and topped a $471.20 exacta. Happy My Way returned $6.60 and $5., while Bern Identity paid $3.80 to show.

 

Favorite Tale faded to finish fifth and was followed by Heaven's Runway, Smash and Grab, and Mico Margarita. Local star Ben's Cat was also scratched.

 

Elsewhere, Tim E. O'Donohue Racing Stables' Lake Sebago emerged from a scramble to capture the Smart Halo Stakes for 2-year old fillies at 27-1 odds for trainer John Robb . By Munnings  , Lake Sebago ($56.40) was last of six moving around the turn before Trevor McCarthy sent her through a gap to catch E Dubai's Humor and beat that one by half a length. Overprepared, the 2-5 favorite from the Todd Pletcher barn, finished third. The time for six furlongs was 1:10.85

 

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cinco Charlie ($4.20) grabbed the early lead, dueled speedy Machination into defeat, then drew off to 2 3/4-length victory in the James F. Lewis III Stakes for 2-year-olds . The son of Indian Charlie, winner of the Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. II) this summer at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen, covered six furlongs in 1:09.74 as the 11-10 favorite under Ricardo Santana Jr.  Majestic Affair was up for third, a length to the good of Senor Grits.

 

Last down the backstretch and moving through traffic to the top of the lane, Sea Gull Associates' Griff ($10.80) steered out to the middle of the course and got up to take the City Of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds . Tim Hills trains the son of Rockport Harbor, and Abel Castellano was at the reins as Griff covered the seven-furlong distance in 1:21.92 at 4-1 odds. Longshot Cutty Shark, at 31-1 odds, looked like the winner at the eighth pole but settled for second, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Bump Start finished third.

 

Richard L. Golden's Who's in Town ($11.40) tipped off the rail, steered out five wide into the stretch, and took command to win the $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes for 3-year old fillies at 4-1 odds . Michael Matz trains the Speightstown   filly who won an allowance prep at Laurel Sept. 29 before getting the stakes breakthrough on Saturday with Julian Pimentel aboard. Shayjolie, the 2-1 favorite, finished second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner. True Romance took third. Time for seven furlongs was 1:23.68.

 

Lawrence P. Roman's Stormin Monarcho ($7.40) enjoyed a perfect trip, stalking the leaders until he was asked to go, then spurting to the lead and drawing off to win in the Richard W. Small Stakes . Jevian Toledo picked up the mount on the 4-year-old Monarchos   gelding from Cintron and helped the David Jacobson-trained runner to a 2 3/4-length triumph in 1:49.32 for 1 1/8 miles. Page McKenney checked in second, while Beautyinthepulpit finished third.

 

The race included a spill at the top of the stretch. Maryland Million Turf winner Talk Show Man was bumped by Turco Bravo and went down, tossing jockey Xavier Perez. Talk Show Man got up and galloped back to trainer Hamilton Smith's barn on the Laurel backstretch. Perez walked back to the jocks room under his own power but took off his final mount on the card.