Aqueduct notes: Apprentice Franco making his mark

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – His last name is not Ortiz, but there are some who hold apprentice rider Manuel Franco in the same high regard as brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz, who rank second and third, respectively, in races won on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2013.

Like the Ortiz brothers, Franco is a native of Puerto Rico and attended that country’s jockey school, Escuela Vocacional Hipica. In the spring of 2013, Franco came to New York, but after having minimal success he summered at Monmouth Park where he won 43 races to finish tied for sixth in the standings with Angel Serpa.

Since returning to New York, Franco has done well, winning 15 races at Belmont’s fall meet (10th in the standings) and 16 during Aqueduct’s fall main-track meeting (fifth). He went 3 for 24 during the first week of the inner-track season.

While the Ortiz brothers figure to vie for leading honors this winter at Aqueduct, Franco could very well be challenging for a spot in the top five despite the fact he is scheduled to lose his apprentice status in mid- to late January.

“They haven’t seen nothing of this kid yet; he’s still in the learning process,” said Efraim “Pito” Rosa, a peace officer at NYRA who helped bring Franco as well as the Ortiz brothers from Puerto Rico to New York.

Franco, who turns 19 years old on Thursday, rode the 100th winner of his career on Saturday, guiding Bizarroworld to victory in Aqueduct’s sixth race.

Franco knew the Ortiz brothers in Puerto Rico and lives with them in a house near Belmont Park. He admitted going to Monmouth last summer was key to his success.

“That was good for me; I ride better, I picked up a lot more experience,” said Franco, who still managed to win five races at Saratoga.

Aside from trainer Rudy Rodriguez, for whom he has ridden six winners from 33 mounts, Franco has ridden only sparingly for the top outfits on the grounds. Franco has found success with Mike Hushion (5 for 26) and Bruce Brown (5 for 16).

“He’s along the same lines as Irad and Jose,” Brown said. “He’s just a good kid. He communicates well with you, does what you tell him to do. He’s got that killer instinct that a lot of bug riders don’t have. He doesn’t ride like a bug boy from what I’ve seen.”

Brown said Franco is a rider “I’m definitely still going to try to support” when he loses his apprentice status.

Sovereign enters claiming game

Sovereign Stable, the racing syndicate that has campaigned graded stakes winners Gander and Negligee, made a successful first foray into the claiming game when it won a starter/optional claiming race on Dec. 11 with Bet the Power.

On Nov. 1, Sovereign added a claiming component to its operation. It took Bet the Power on Nov. 16 for $62,500 and made nearly half that investment back ($31,200) with the recent win. Bet the Power is trained by John Terranova.

“It’s something we were kind of reluctant to do because we were always looking for the higher-level horses, but with the purses being so good in New York it’s almost like an imbalance,” said Matthew Gatsas, president of Sovereign. “It makes a lot of financial sense. We’re trying to come up with a solid program for our clients. They like it.”

Gatsas said Sovereign has raised “quite a bit of money” to claim horses and hopes to be more active throughout the winter. Gatsas said Sovereign plans to participate at all price levels of the claiming game.

“He won’t be the last,” Gatsas said. “Hopefully, they all can run back like that.”

Bet the Power, a 5-year-old gelding by Albert the Great, beat the heavily favored Moments Notiz last week, running six furlongs in 1:10.07 and running a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Brown eyes Fair Grounds stakes

Before he likely gives both horses a vacation in Florida, trainer Bruce Brown on Monday shipped Compliance Officer and Strong Impact by van to Fair Grounds where they will compete in separate turf stakes Saturday at the New Orleans track.

Compliance Officer, who broke a seven-race losing streak on Dec. 4 with a win at Aqueduct when entered for $62,500 claiming tag, is slated to run in the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial at 1 1/16 miles. Strong Impact, who won a minor stakes at Saratoga in July but has lost his last three, is scheduled to run in the $75,000 Bonapaw at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Compliance Officer, a four-time New York-bred stakes-winning gelding, won the Claiming Crown Emerald at Fair Grounds in 2011.

“One good thing about going down there is at least we know he can handle that turf course,” Brown said.

New wager to debut Jan. 1

NYRA will offer a new wager called the Omni, beginning Jan. 1. The wager requires a bettor to correctly select two horses to finish in the top three positions – first and second, first and third, or second and third – in a race to win. The wager, which will have a $1 minimum, will have a 15 percent takeout and will be offered on every race.

The Omni is a wager that is offered in South Africa and was tried for a brief period at Keeneland.

Also, beginning Jan. 1, first post at Aqueduct will move to 12:25 p.m. from 12:20.