Clipthecouponannie faces experienced Frosty Margarita in Franklin Square
Lucrative opportunities abound for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies, and six of them clash in Saturday’s second running of the $125,000 Franklin Square at six furlongs.
Likely to vie for favoritism are Clipthecouponannie, who is drawn on the rail for her stakes debut, and Frosty Margarita, who breaks from the outside in search of her fourth consecutive stakes victory.
Irad Ortiz Jr., the only rider either filly has ever known, has opted to stay aboard Clipthecouponannie. Her debut victory in December impressed trainer Todd Pletcher so much that he entered her in last month’s Ruthless Stakes before opting instead for a preliminary allowance that she won in a canter at odds of 1-10.
The experience edge goes to Frosty Margarita, who has won or placed in all seven of her starts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. This will not be the first time she has taken on an undefeated rival. In the Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes, she posted a gritty decision over Behrnik’s Bank, a highly promising filly who had won her first two starts by better than 31 lengths combined.
“To beat that favorite was extra special for her,” said Rodriguez, who has turned the trainers’ race into a runaway with a 32-for-96 record at the inner-track meet through Monday.
Frosty Margarita turns back in distance after building a lengthy early lead and hanging on by a nose in the Maddie May Stakes at a mile and 70 yards.
Also cutting back is Absatootly, who did not appear comfortable under rating tactics behind Frosty Margarita in the Maddie May. Prior to that, she had won the East View in wire-to-wire fashion.
“I thought she would handle stretching out a bit, but I think she’s better sprinting,” said trainer Charlie Baker.
Looking to keep her perfect record intact is Wonderment, who burst onto the scene with two wins last July – a debut score over Frosty Margarita followed by a blowout win in the Lynbrook Stakes just 10 days later.
In explaining the quick turnaround, trainer Ken McPeek noted that she won at first asking “basically off one half-mile breeze. We didn’t do a whole lot with her. There are not many opportunities for something like that.”
Red Atlantic and Stones of Navarone complete the field.
KEY CONTENDERS
Clipthecouponannie, by Uncle Mo
Beyers: 78-79
◗ The second- through fifth-place finishers from her Dec. 20 maiden win all graduated next out.
◗ She is the first runner out of Lights Off Annie, a four-time winner on the inner track, including two editions of the Broadway Stakes.
Frosty Margarita, by Frost Giant
Last 3 Beyers: 75-76-72
◗ With earnings of $345,800, she has amassed nearly as much as the rest combined ($353,756).
Wonderment, by Cosmonaut
Beyers: 74-61
◗ Her half-brother Persuasive Devil was a maiden winner on the inner track in December 2014.