BY BROCK SHERIDAN
After having his four-race win-streak snapped when third last out in the Grade 3 Vosburgh, Dean Delivers looks to resume his winning ways in the $100,000 Dave’s Friend, a six-furlong test at Laurel Park for 3-year-olds and older.
Run over a sloppy seven furlongs at Aqueduct on Sept. 28, the Vosburgh saw Dean Delivers and jockey Jaime Rodriguez set the early pace before winner Mufasa and runner-up Scotland went by at the top of the stretch. In addition to being his first loss in five starts, it was also the first time Dean Delivers had failed to make the winner’s circle since joining the barn of trainer Edward T. Allard in May.
“I think that seven-eighths of a mile is a bit of a stretch for him. He’s won going seven-eighths, but I like him best going three-quarters,” Allard said. “I thought the race at Aqueduct was pretty tough. He ran okay, but I thought I’d stay away from those kind and get back to reality, so to speak.”
In his first start for Allard on May 27, Dean Delivers won the $104,000 Mr. Prospector by eight lengths at Monmouth Park then won the $125,000 Alapocas Run at Delaware Park on July 8, both at six furlongs. Dean Delivers next won the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel on July 28, defeating Dave’s Friend rival Five Dreams in second, before taking the $100,000 Rumson at Monmouth Park on Sept. 1.
Dean Delivers is a homebred for Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC and has won nine with eight seconds and three thirds from 26 career starts and earnings of $817,660. He is by Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze out of Slick and True, by Yes It’s True.
Rodriguez, gets the return mount and they have drawn post four in the field of seven.
“Jaime really likes him and the horse responds really well for him. I think we look good in there,” Allard said. “I gave him a little break because he’s run hard all year, but he’s sharp as a tack and feeling good. He had a nice [final] breeze for the race. He’s had a little freshening up and he’s doing super. He’s a horse that’s very easy on himself. He’s not difficult to train, and he likes being a racehorse.”
Five Dreams, who was also third in the Rumson, exits a third-place finish to Spikezone in a six-furlong allowance at Laurel on Nov. 1 for trainer Jose Magana and owners Pepe Stable LLC and J L M Jacona Stable.
The 6-year-old gelding by Cinco Charlie tries for his first score since taking an upper condition, $55,000 optional claiming taken off the turf at Laurel in August.
Five Dreams has won nine with 15 seconds and nine thirds from 51 career starts while banking $464,641.
J.G. Torrealba will ride Five Dreams from post six.
Two other top contenders are No Cents and Witty, who both come out of strong wins against upper condition, $55,000 optional claiming company at Laurel.
No Cents is trained by Cathal Lynch for Isabelle de Tomaso and Hope Jones and has the inside post.
Mychel Sanchez will be aboard No Cents in the Dave’s Friend.
Elizabeth Merryman trains and co-owns Witty with Marc Merryman and Qatar Racing LLC. She has given the riding assignment to Jevian Toledo and they will depart post three.
Other entrants include Mr. Antonelli and jockey Xavier Perez, Factually Correct with Jose Gomez named to ride and Manny Wah, who will be ridden by Sheldon Russell.
