Sean Avery favourite to take the De Francis Dash at Laurel Park
Black Swan Stable’s 6-year-old gelding, Sean Avery, had a brilliant 2011 season, with four victories in five starts including a grade 1 victory and a lone second place finish, extended his good run of form in this season’s opener as well, but fell away to finish fifth in his last start at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on 29 September, 2012.
Sent as the favourite to take the Vosburgh Invitational, Sean Avery split the field and finished fifth on the day, but now trainer Allen Iwinski will be hoping that his older sprinter finds his winning form yet again by dropping him in class, and running him in the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park on 27 October, 2012.
The gelded son of Cherokee Run, Sean Avery last year in August was sent as the 17 to 1 choice in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, but he surprised one and all by defeating Trappe Shot in second and Calibrachoa in third to win the 6 furlong sprint in 1 minute and 9.71 seconds.
However, Sean Avery is short on race practice, as he has run only twice since winning the Vanderbilt. He capped off the last season with a win at Saratoga, and started his 6-year-old campaign in fine style by winning the six furlong Affiliate Stakes at Belmont Park on 8 September, 2012.
In the Vosburgh, Sean Avery turned up the heat in the beginning by pressing the pace, but came up short by 6 ½ lengths to winner, The Lumber Guy.
Another sprinter to lookout for in the Francis Memorial Dash is the 5-year-old son of Gators N Bears, Action Andy, who is the winner of the Jim McKay Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park on 6 October, 2012.
"He doesn't need to be in the lead. He can sit right behind and make one run at it," Garcia said. "No matter where you run him he does very well. Right now he's at the top of his game. He's training superb and came out of the (Maryland Million Sprint) so good and deserves a chance. It's a tough race, you have a grade I winner in and the Dutrow horse is nice."
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