Hot-Riding Gaffalione, Guildsman Snag Franklin-Simpson
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Photo: Grace Clark/Kentucky Downs
Guildsman rallies to win the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs
Tyler Gaffalione put an exclamation point on the Kentucky Downs meet by winning the $343,875 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G3T) Sept. 16 on Guildsman—his third win of the day and a meet-best 11th to finish as leading jockey. The stakes victory was also the jockey's third after Got Stormy in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) and Plum Ali in the Mint Juvenile Fillies Stakes earlier in the six-day season.
Gaffalione had to work to capture the closing-day Franklin-Simpson on late-running Guildsman. Still 11th after a half-mile in the 6 1/2-furlong race as Johnny Unleashed rolled through fractions of :21.47 and :44.77 on the firm course, he needed to urge his mount past 10 rivals down the lengthy stretch to prevail.
Guildsman burst into second with a furlong remaining and outkicked runner-up Island Commish by a neck after that one had taken command. The latter was a neck in front of 47-1 longshot Souper Dormy in third.
Favored Turned Aside ran fifth after stalking the pace along the inside.
The winner, a 3-year-old gelded son of Wooton Bassett trained by Brendan Walsh and owned by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing, was timed in 1:15.87. He paid $21.80.
"That was nice. It was a great meet. My agent (Matt Muzikar) has done an incredible job preparing for this meet," Gaffalione said. "I'm so thrilled for Brendan. He's been helping me for a long time.
"We've been trying to hook up with this (gelding). The distance was key today, just a little extra ground. He kept coming and really proved his stuff today. It was a great race all around."
The victory was the second straight for the former European runner, who took the Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs on a synthetic surface Aug. 10.
"We were going six at Presque Isle last time, and the 6 1/2 today was right in his wheelhouse," Walsh said. "I'm not actually surprised. He's a really talented horse."
The Tom Ridge was a needed confidence builder after Guildsman had gone eight races without a victory after winning his debut at Goodwood in June 2019 in Britain. One of those losses was a third-place finish to winner Arizona in the Coventry Stakes (G2) last summer at Royal Ascot.
"I'm delighted for Sheikh Fahad. It was great to win with him. He's a very good supporter of mine and all his people," Walsh said.
It was the second consecutive score in the Franklin-Simpson for Qatar Racing, a part owner in last year's winner, the Doug O'Neill-trained Legends of War.
Bred in France by S.C.E.A. Haras de Saint Pair, Guildsman was eligible for only half the advertised purse of the Franklin-Simpson Stakes, leaving him to make $144,150. Only Kentucky-breds competed for the full purse.
The winner was bought for €125,000 (US$140,438) by David Redvers at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale in May 2019 from the Church Farm & Horse Park Stud consignment. Then in October, he went unsold when short of his reserve when bidding stalled at 160,000 guineas (US$215,997) at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when consigned by Jaime Railton.
He is the first stakes winner from two to race from the Street Cry mare Dardiza. Her other runner, 2-year-old Isle of White, placed this year in France.