Change of Control upsets Franklin County to give Lovell eighth stakes win of the year

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nothing can obscure the huge year that trainer Michelle Lovell is enjoying.

A blinding rain that had racing fans at Keeneland and elsewhere asking “Who is that?” was no factor in Lovell winning her eighth stakes of the year – doubling her previous career high – when Change of Control and jockey Colby Hernandez slogged to victory Friday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Franklin County Stakes.

“I couldn’t see anything,” an amused Lovell said afterward, further referring to how every starter in the field carried a white saddletowel – an occasional Keeneland practice owing to the preference of a race’s particular sponsor. “They were all 2s – all white saddletowels. It was a good thing they had the numbers up on the toteboard.”

Several hours of intermittent mist and light rain already had left the Keeneland turf soggy, but then came a torrid downpour several minutes before a field of 10 fillies and mares were loaded into the starting gate for the 5 1/2-furlong Franklin County. The rain continued during a race in which Change of Control, always a stalking presence from the outside post, surged past Ambassador Luna for a 1 1/2-length victory.

The winner paid $14.60 as third choice after finishing in 1:05.89 over a course retroactively rated soft.

Ambassador Luna, a 62-1 outsider ridden by James Graham, had led from the break, turning back Yes It’s Ginger before Change of Control overtook her. Campanelle, the 6-5 favorite and the only 3-year-old in the field, was unable to overcome a rough start when rallying to finish another neck back in third.

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Change of Control, a 5-year-old Fed Biz mare owned by Perry Harrison, now has won eight of 30 starts and $656,775. The Kentucky-bred mare now has four stakes wins to her credit and becomes the fourth horse to win both the Giant’s Causeway and Franklin County – filly-mare turf sprints run at Keeneland in the spring and fall, respectively – in the same calendar year, with the previous such repeater being Dyna Da Wyna in 2004.

Lovell, a trainer since 2003, previously had a career high of four stakes wins in a season. Change of Control now has won three stakes for her this year and Lovell’s other stable star, Just Might, has won five.

Lovell said Change of Control will not be considered for the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

The $2 exacta (12-2) paid $689, the $1 trifecta (12-2-4) returned $1,302.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (12-2-4-5) was worth $971.99.

The Franklin County, sponsored since 2005 by the Buffalo Trace distillery of Frankfort, anchored a 10-race Friday card that also included two turf allowances, both of them part of the Keeneland Turf Pick 3 that returned $2,292.30 for the $3 minimum when ending with the feature. Winners of the first two legs run over a “good” course were Bob’s Edge ($14.80) in race 5 and Curly Ruth ($19.80) in race 7.

One other allowance contested over a muddy main track was won in gate-to-wire fashion by Center Aisle ($7.40), ridden by Joel Rosario. The 4-year-old Into Mischief filly was making her first start in nearly 11 months when perpetuating a recent hot streak for trainer Paulo Lobo.

Racing continues Saturday at Keeneland with a 10-race card highlighted by the sixth and final Grade 1 race of the 17-day fall meet, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.