By Alan Carasso
Last seen finishing the distant runner-up behind Tuz (Oxbow) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Mar. 30, Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) turned in an ideal prep for an expected date in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with an all-the-way victory in Wednesday's $353,808 Listed Cluster Cup at Morioka Raceourse on the National Association of Racing circuit.
An agile individual for a horse that tipped the scales Wednesday at 607 kg (1335 pounds), Don Frankie was ridden for speed from gate seven by Kenichi Ikezoe and made the running while racing several paths off the inside rail over the deep surface. Tracked by Keiai Dorie (Jpn) (Espoir City {Jpn}) around the turn, Don Frankie remained wide into the lane and stayed on bravely to score by a half-length over the fast-finishing Kurojishi Joe (Jpn) (Furioso {Jpn}).
Runner-up to the world-class Remake (Jpn) (Lani) in this event last year, Don Frankie set a course record in taking out the Listed Tokyo Hai at Ohi Oct. 4. Ninth in the G1 February Stakes over a 1600-meter trip that likely stretches him, Don Frankie led into the final furlong and a half of the Golden Shaheen before Tuz burst clear at the rail. The form of the race has been further flattered by the third-placed Nakatomi (Firing Line), who has since won the GI A. G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga. Remake, who won the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint before finishing fourth in the Golden Shaheen, defends his title in next month's G3 Korea Sprint at Seoul, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Weemissfrankie, winner of the 2011 GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes and GI Oak Leaf Stakes ahead of a third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, is responsible for five winners in addition to Don Frankie, who cost just over $625,000 as a foal in 2019. Weemissfrankie passed away from foaling complications after producing a filly by Mikki Isle (Jpn) in February 2022. That produce, Samantha Barows (Jpn), is unraced to date.
Wednesay's Results:
CLUSTER CUP (Jpn-G3)-Listed, ¥52,500,000, Morioka, 8-14, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:10, hy.
1–DON FRANKIE (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Daiwa Major (Jpn)
1st Dam: Weemissfrankie (GISW-US, $559,920), by Sunriver
2nd Dam: Starinthemeadow, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Lite a Star, by Our Michael
(¥68,000,000 Wlg '19 JRHAJUL). O-Makoto Hayano; B-Northern Farm; T-Takashi Saito; J-Kenichi Ikezoe; ¥30,000,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Jpn, G1SP- UAE, 17-8-4-0, $1,791,630.
2–Kurojishi Joe (Jpn), 119, h, 5, Furioso (Jpn)–Silence Love (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). O-Takao Kawauchi; B-Masuo Farm; ¥10,500,000.
3–Keiai Dorie (Jpn), 121, h, 7, Espoir City (Jpn)–Alvena, by Seeking the Gold. O-Keiai Stallion; B-Takae Farm; ¥6,000,000.
Margins: HF, 2, 1. Odds: 0.80, 11.70, 60.40.
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