It's Mansa Musa's Time to Shine in Franklin-Simpson

If there is a horse ready for a breakthrough performance in the $2 million Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs, it's Mansa Musa . Since arriving in the United States, the Irish-bred colt has been a consistent and sometimes unlucky competitor for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

With the extra furlong and a gaggle of speed horses breaking to his inside, Kentucky Down's first-ever grade 1 contest could turn the tide for the plucky Mansa Musa. That wave could carry him straight to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) if the racing gods bestow victory in his path.

While another turf stakes on the Sept. 7 card, the Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2T), is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event for the Turf Sprint, the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin-Simpson Stakes, restricted to 3-year-olds, does not grant the victor an all-fees-paid berth to the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup race. However, Kentucky Downs management has pledged to finance the entry fees for Championship Saturday should the winner of the Franklin-Simpson choose to participate in the Breeders' Cup.

If one throws out his uncharacteristic seventh-place finish in the Aug. 11 Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Mansa Musa has been the picture of consistency, hitting the board in his four other U.S. starts. Stakes-placed in group 3 company in his native Ireland as a 2-year-old, the son of Ten Sovereigns  has been unable to lay claim to stakes winner status despite turning in creditable performances. The closing sprinter was just beaten by Fandom  in the Palisades Stakes at Keeneland, a troubled third in the William Walker Stakes (crossing the fire in fourth but moved up to third after being forced to steady down the lane), and a second to the brilliant Godolphin filly Star of Mystery  in the Quick Call Stakes (G3T) two starts back. He earned a career-high 106 Equibase Speed Figure for his Quick Call exploits, the co-highest in the oversubscribed field of 12.

Junior Alvarado, the only rider to pilot the Team Valor and Gary Barber color-bearer stateside, has the call from the 11 post.

Mansa Musa is one of four horses exiting the Mahony Stakes. Christophe Clement-trained Apollo Ten , third in the Mahony, and Jose D'Angelo pupil Howard Wolowitz , fourth, both van into Kentucky Downs from Saratoga. Cheyenne Stable's Apollo Ten hasn't quite ran the figures Mansa Musa has, but is a stakes winner nonetheless, capturing the 5 1/2-furlong My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park July 14. The speedy Violence   colt, who went gate to wire in the My Frenchman, should face an early challenge from Howard Wolowitz on the front end.

Howard Wolowitz was a superb front-running victor in his maiden tally on the synthetic track at Gulfstream Park before finding himself too far behind early in the Mahony. Encountering traffic throughout, the Munnings   colt checked in fourth but could be much more dangerous if he gets things his own way on the lead.

"He had a really bad trip at Saratoga," D'Angelo said. "He was inside, behind horses, and he never got to clear. In the last furlong of that race, he could not make his move because he didn't have any place to go.

“I really like our chances (in the Franklin-Simpson). Every morning, he looks like he is handling the track better and better.”

Kentucky Downs is notorious for its upset winners, and a host of live longshots look to spoil the favorites on the track's biggest day. Resolute Racing and Qatar Racing's Evade , group 3-placed in France, makes his stateside debut for trainer Mike Maker, and Ellis Park-based Joe Shiesty  wired the field impressively during Kentucky Derby week in the May 1 William Walker two starts back.