By Christina Bossinakis
Godolphin's Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) leads an oversubscribed renewal of the GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland Sunday. With 12 listed in the body of the field and an additional four waiting on the A/E list, the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint offers contenders an opportunity to earn their way into one of a few options during next month's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.
The Charlie Appleby runner certainly hasn't been ducking anyone since embarking on her 3-year-old campaign, having made all six prior starts this season against the boys. A listed winner last season, she launched 2024 with a pair of victories at Meydan, including the five-furlong G2 Blue Point Sprint Jan. 26 before coming home second in the Mar. 2 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. Favored in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard, she was second–beaten 3/4 of a length–by California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who was a next out second in the G1 Chairman's Prize Sprint at Sha Tin.
Given a freshening, the homebred finished third behind the highly regarded Cogburn (Not This Time) in her U.S. debut in Saratoga's 5 1/2-furlongs GI Jaipur Stakes June 8. Favored once again in the July 14 Quick Call Stakes, she came home a 1 1/2-length winner. Flavien Prat, aboard for both stateside starts, will be in the irons.
Also doing much of her early work in Dubai, Frost At Dawn (Frosted) has done plenty of traveling since her victory over Star of Mystery in the aforementioned Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint. Off the board in both the A Quoz and the G1 Nunthorpe-a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event—the Rabbah Bloodstock homebred finished third most recently over the soft going in Ayr's Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies Stakes Sept. 20.
A good performance may pave the way at the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint to be run on Nov. 2.
“We didn't qualify for the Breeders' Cup in Europe, so we decided to try here,” said Michelle Gross, who is overseeing the 3-year-old filly's preparation for trainer William Knight.
“She got here Sunday [Oct. 6] after a couple days in quarantine at Churchill. She's doing very well and she traveled well.”
Always dangerous in the turf sprints, trainer Christophe Clement saddles a pair in Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) and Dontlookbackatall (Peace and Justice). The former has proven her affinity for the distance, having hit the board in all six starts while having won four. Victorious over this course and trip in the GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes in April, the 5-year-old most recently took the 6 1/2-panel GI Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on the synthetic Sept. 20. Clement's other runner registered three consecutive turf sprint wins this season, including the 5 1/2-furlong GIII Caress Stakes at Saratoga in July before coming home second when stretching to 6 1/2 panels for the GII Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31. Irad Ortiz Jr. returns to ride Roses for Debra while her year-younger stablemate will be accompanied by Tyler Gaffalione for the first time.
Also looking to make some noise is Future Is Now (Great Notion), winner of three of her last four starts. Winner of Pimlico's The Very One Stakes on May followed by a score over Roses for Debra in the GII Intercontinental Stakes at the Spa in June, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly was third in the Caress but came back to take the Smart N Fancy Stakes-again leaving Roses for Debra in her wake-in upstate New York Aug. 23. Jockey Paco Lopez, who recently hit the 4000-win mark, gets the return call.
Earlier Sunday afternoon, Aqueduct presents the GIII Knickerbocker Stakes. With six signed on in addition to one entered for main track only, the nine-furlong turf test features GIII Monmouth Stakes winner Fort Washington (War Front). The 5-year-old finished third last time out in Saratoga's Bernard Baruch Stakes Sept. 1.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
