A cast of eight three-year-olds will run 5 1/2 grassy panels in Thursday’s $125,000 Dade Park Dash S. at Ellis Park. The trio of morning-line choices are all speedsters, and I feel that the winner of the dash will rally from off the pace at a price. 

Dade Park Dash Stakes Wagers:

$15 win and place #6 Committee of One ($30)

$2 trifecta 4,6 with 4,6 with all ($24)

Dade Park Dash Stakes Race Shape:

#4 Joe Shiesty (2-1) is the deserving favorite coming off of a dominant score in the William Walker at Churchill Downs where he defeated a fine group. This Air Force Blue gelding is very fast and will be forcing the issue from the break in his second career run on the turf. 

#8 Barksdale (7-2) set an impossible early tempo in the Woody Stephens (G1) on the dirt last time out before fading away in the lane, and the talented William Walden trainee will surely be among the leaders from the start. 

And recent local turf allowance winner #1 Bear River (3-1) is also fleet of foot, and he might have to be sent from the rail to ensure a positive voyage throughout under James Graham. I don’t see any of the trio clearing early on, and a robust early tempo seems more than likely to me. 

Steve Asmussen’s #6 Committee of One (5-1) fits the profile of a horse who will receive the necessary pace to perform at his best and gets top billing. The Kentucky-bred son of Mendelssohn has just a single tally to his credit, but it was a good one as he annexed the 2023 Indian Summer S. at Keeneland over a deep cast. He hasn’t been as sharp in his pair of turf sprints this season, but the chestnut has excuses for each, including being stuck behind a moderate early tempo when an allowance fifth beneath the Twin Spires last time out while facing his elders. 

Committee of One was second on debut in his lone run on the Ellis turf in advance of Thursday, and the colt seems poised to deliver a big late run in this particular spot with Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the silks. The price is right, too.