Qatar Racing Limited, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables' Caravel surged past pacesetting Twilight Gleaming passing the eighth pole and went on to post a 1¾-length victory in the 26th running of the $300,000 Franklin (G3) for fillies and mares Sunday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Caravel covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.59. It is the second victory in the race for Gaffalione, who guided Got Stormy to the win in the 2020 renewal.
Twilight Gleaming took the lead out of the gate and was hounded through fractions of :21.40 and :44.82 by Creative Credit to her inside while Caravel raced just behind the top two. At the head of the stretch, Gaffalione had Caravel in the three path with aim on the leaders, taking over after the eighth pole and securing enough of a cushion to hold off fast-closing Thundering Creed.
“The mare ran a great race,” Gaffalione said. “She broke alertly today. I knew (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez's) horse (Twilight Gleaming) was the one to beat, so I worked my way out to get behind her, and coming into the stretch, I attacked her as soon as I could. My horse was game, and she finished the job well.”
Star Devine was third, a nose behind Thundering Creed.
A 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter by Mizzen Mast out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, Caravel notched her third Grade 3 victory and ninth stakes victory overall as she improved her record to 11-0-3 from 19 career starts. Sunday's victory was worth $143,375 and increased Caravel's earnings to $811,152.
Caravel is cataloged to Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 7. Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigns the mare, who is Hip 224 and cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect.
“(Whether we go to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint [G1]) will ultimately be up to the owners, but we'll talk to them about it,” Cox said. “I do know she's in the (Keeneland November Breeding Stock) sale, but there's been some talk about possibly running her next year as well, so who knows? At the end of the day I'm just proud of what she's been able to accomplish, and congratulations to the ownership group. She's a tough filly. She always brings it.”
For winning the Franklin, Caravel returned $6.88.
Twilight Gleaming was fourth and was followed in order of finish by Have A Good Day, Creative Credit, Brooke Marie, Tobys Heart, Querobin Dourada, Bout Time, and Elle Z.
The post ‘She Always Brings It’: Caravel Kicks Clear To Win Franklin At Keeneland, Possible For Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
