Caravel Rallies to Score in Franklin at Keeneland
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Caravel wins the Franklin Stakes at Keeneland
Under a darkening Lexington sky, it was Caravel who brought the thunder down upon 10 opponents, including Twilight Gleaming , to earn the third graded stakes win of her career in the Franklin Stakes (G3T) Oct. 16 at Keeneland.
The 5-year-old mare under Tyler Gaffalione broke well and eased into third while Twilight Gleaming went straight to the front in :21.40. Creative Credit was strong, traveling in second before getting a head in front after a half-mile in :44.82. As the field reached the sixteenth pole in :56.39, Creative Credit fell back and Star Devine moved from fourth into third. Thundering Creed , who was last early, rallied down the lane while Twilight Gleaming faltered in the final furlong.
At the wire it was 2-1 favorite Caravel whose bid was strongest, rallying three wide to finish 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 19-1 Thundering Creed to win the 5 1/2-furlong race on a firm course in 1:02.59. Star Devine was a nose back in third, with 5-2 second choice Twilight Gleaming fourth.
Caravel surges ahead to take the Franklin Stakes at Keeneland
Owned by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables and trained by Brad Cox, Caravel ($6.88) improved her record to 11-0-3 from 19 starts and increased her earnings to $811,152. She was making her first start since missing the mark in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G3T) Sept. 19, where she was fourth on a synthetic surface.
Twilight Gleaming looked tough to beat, coming in with two wins in stakes company from her last two starts. The 3-year-old filly trained by Wesley Ward also was a winner of the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) and also was runner-up in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot last year.
Cox said he knew the race would be demanding for his horse but felt as if she was well prepared to take it on.
"I did (think she was sitting on a big race). I thought she ran really well at Presque Isle," Cox said. "Speed wasn't good that night. She rebounded; she's had two solid works since then here at Keeneland on the dirt and did very well, so I thought she was set up for a big effort. Tyler did a great job putting her in perfect position, and she really kicked home when asked."
Cox said the Mizzen Mast mare may be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), but nothing is official.
"It 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."
The gray or roan mare was purchased for $500,000 by Fergus Galvin, agent, at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale from the ELiTE consignment. She was bred by Elizabeth Merryman in Pennsylvania out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, who has three winners from four foals to race, including multiple stakes winner Witty . The dam also has a yearling Great Notion colt and dropped a Street Boss filly this year.