Manny Franco

Sacrosanct (Honest Mischief) maintained his flawless record by the closest margin of his career when winning the New York Stallion Series Great White Way Stakes. A winner at first-asking Aug. 21 at Saratoga, he parlayed that unveiling into a 12-length tour-de-force in the Sept. 22 New York-bred restricted Bertram F. Bongard Stakes and secured his third victory in a row last out Oct. 27 at this venue in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. Stalking the early pace and pressing from the outside behind :22.30 and :45.01 early splits, he made his...

It's the end of an era for the Virginia Derby. After 21 editions dating back to 1998 at Colonial Downs, the 1 1/8-mile turf event that historically anchors the Closing Day card will move to the main track and be conducted in March as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. And so it seems only fitting that a pair of horses who took on the Triple Crown trail just this season brought this race down to the wire with GIII Gotham Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic...

The 2024 GI Spinaway Stakes was a tale of the haves and the have-nots. On one hand, there was just a single stakes winner in the field. But that runner, The Queens M G (Thousand Words), was looking to sweep the 2-year-old stakes on offer at Saratoga this season--a feat not commonly accomplished. Lined up to oppose her was a talented group of maiden winners led by 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) and Godolphin homebred Immersive (Nyquist). And of the 11 fillies lined up seeking Grade I glory, only...

It was a pretty decent Wednesday afternoon for Alex Bregman, all things considered. He had a single and a double from his first three at-bats as his AL West leading Houston Astros built a big lead against NL East front-runner Philadelphia Phillies, and up at Saratoga, his 2-year-old filly Totally Justified (Justify) donned cap and gown in the $150,000 P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga. A well-backed 63-10 trying stakes and turf for the first time, the $285,000 Keeneland September yearling bounced nicely from gate six in a field of...

Awesome Czech (Mendelssohn) became the fourth new stakes winner in the last 31 days for her Ashford-based stallion, pulling away to take Wednesday's Suzie O'Cain Stakes with a fair bit of authority. Settled in fourth and detached from the leading trio that was led by commonly owned stablemate Red Burgundy (Noble Mission {GB}), Awesome Czech was patiently handled down the back before being asked for some acceleration leaving the three-furlong pole. Steered out three wide at the top of the lane by Manny Franco, Awesome Czech easily gathered up her...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Manny Franco was on Honor Marie's (Honor Code) back when the colt hit the Oklahoma Training Track at 7:30 Saturday morning. That doesn't mean Franco will be there when Honor Marie runs in the GI Travers Stakes on Aug. 24. Honor Marie worked four furlongs in :48.75 with 2-year-old stablemate Fiddling Felix (Mendelssohn) as he continues to train up to the Midsummer Derby. Franco answered the call to work the horse because trainer Whit Beckman doesn't have an abundance of exercise riders at his disposal...

3rd-Saratoga, $90,000, (S), Msw, 7-17, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.08, ft, 10 3/4 lengths. BELLACOSE (f, 2, Audible--Little Bullet, by Uncle Mo) continued a very positive start to the current meet for this barn, which was represented by GIII Sanford Stakes winner Mo Plex (Complexity) last Saturday. The 32-5 betting alternative to odds-on Vehemente (Vekoma), Bellacose won the break beneath Manny Franco and galloped his seven fellow firsters through an opening quarter in :22.20. With Vehemente improving one spot to try to take the race to the pacesetter nearing the...

Manny Franco was the leading rider and Chad Brown took the leading trainer title at the 35-day Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet which concluded Sunday. Franco, 29, topped the table on the heels of a prosperous Aqueduct spring meet where he won the title with 28 wins. He visited the winner's circle 41 times as part of a 210-41-41-25 record with $3,148,141 in earnings at the Belmont meeting. "It's special. I have never won this one before, so it's amazing," said Franco. "I'm so happy to have the...

The late Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), who won last year's GIII Victory Ride S. and GIII Miss Preakness S. before tragically falling en route to victory in the GI Test S., was named New York-bred Horse of the Year along with champion 3-year-old filly and champion female sprinter honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s Annual Awards Ceremony Monday night. Bred by Joe Fafone and campaigned by Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm, Maple Leaf Mel was trained by Melanie Giddings--for whom she was named--and Jeremiah Englehart. The complete...

Manny Franco rode the winners of 28 races to claim the leading jockey title during the 16-day spring meet at Aqueduct which concluded Sunday. The 29-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico earned a repeat win and his third overall title at the meet after capturing last year's Big A spring title with 37 wins and the 2019 title with 18 wins. "It feels great to be back on top," said Franco, who is represented by agent John Panagot. "I'm just grateful and happy to be in this position. I want...

Sumaya US Stable homebred Ghalia Princess (American Pharoah) made light work of three rivals to post a first black-type success in Saturday's $100,000 Cicada S. at Aqueduct. Cutting back a furlong after finishing runner-up in the Feb. 17 Ruthless S., the bay was away from stall one without incident, but was beaten for speed by Reconcile (War Front). Manny Franco elected to take a tug on Ghalia Princess, easing her back and into the two path to do the chasing through an opening quarter in :22.15. Content to race with...

1st-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 1-13, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.51, my, 5 1/4 lengths. TUSCAN SKY (c, 3, Vino Rosso--South Andros {SW, $207,125}, by Sky Mesa), a clear 7-2 second choice on debut taking on the three-start maiden, but 3-4 chalk Have You Heard (Hard Spun), found his best stride entering the final furlong and streaked home to open his account impressively at first asking in the Saturday opener from Aqueduct. Tuscan Sky won the break and took his four rivals along through the opening furlong, but Have You Heard wrested command before...