Campanelle brings Group 1 credentials to Franklin County Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A filly with three wins in group races overseas – including a pair of Grade 1’s – ought to be able to win a Grade 3 back home in the U.S., right?

That’s the central question regarding the presence of Campanelle in her homecoming Friday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Franklin County Stakes on the Keeneland turf.

Last year at 2, the Stonestreet Stables star won the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in England and the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville in France, then went back for more this summer. She was awarded victory via disqualification in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup versus 3-year-old males at Royal Ascot in June.

“She’s a top-class filly, no doubt,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “She hasn’t beaten older fillies yet, though, but that’s what we’re setting out to do Friday. She’s come back from her last start really well and we’ll hope to get her a first stakes win on U.S. soil.”

:: Shop for Keeneland: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, and more

The only time Campanelle faced her elders was in her most recent start, when she finished last of 12 in a Group 1 back at Deauville over soft going in August. Her assignment Friday in the 5 1/2-furlong Franklin County does not look particularly easy, regardless of the grade, as she is listed as only a lukewarm 7-2 program favorite. She faces a number of the top filly-mare turf sprinters from this region and beyond.

Joel Rosario will be back from New York for his second appearance of the Keeneland fall meet and will guide Campanelle away from post 4 in a field of 12.

Among the opposition primed to give Campanelle all she can handle are Change of Control, In Good Spirits, and Elle Z.

Change of Control (post 12, Colby Hernandez) has made a career of winning in turf sprints, sometimes at a big mutuel. The steady 5-year-old mare will be looking to extend what has been a breakthrough year for trainer Michelle Lovell, who already has seven stakes wins in 2021.

In Good Spirits (post 5, John Velazquez) drew in off the also-eligibles list and won the Grade 3 Ladies Sprint for trainer Al Stall Jr. last month at Kentucky Downs. She earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Elle Z (post 9, Mitchell Murrill) invariably is the speed of the speed, and once again she’s likely to dare all to catch her.

The Franklin County, sponsored since 2005 by the Buffalo Trace distillery of Frankfort, is the ninth of 10 races on a Friday card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the feature is 5:16.