Eldon's Prince outlasts No Nay Franklin in Armed Forces
Eldon’s Prince and No Nay Franklin hooked up midstretch and dueled to the wire with Eldon’s Prince prevailing by a head in the $75,00 Armed Forces Stakes for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
Eldon’s Prince’s paid $4.80 for his gutsy win in the seven-furlong race on the main track, which was rated fast. The race was originally scheduled for one mile on turf.
With Edgard Zayas aboard, Eldon’s Prince had one horse beat at the first call, moved up to fourth at the half-mile mark and, under confident handling, made a strong move while going four-wide around the turn before edging No Nay Franklin in a thrilling stretch duel.
No Nay Franklin stalked the pace, took over the lead turning for home, and was game in defeat. It was six lengths back to Golden Juan, who dueled with Night Jumper and Eternal Rest before settling for third in the eight-horse field.
The final time was 1:25.02
An Ontario-bred son of Cairo Prince, Eldon’s Prince is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and races for Gentry Farms.
No Nay Franklin is trained by Patrick Biancone, who won the co-featured $75,000 Our Dear Page for 2-year-old fillies with Diamond Wow. The Joseph-trained Harper Be Good was the runner-up in the seven-furlong race on the main track that was also originally scheduled for one mile on turf.
Diamond Wow paid $4.80 and posted a final time of 1:24.67 over the fast track.
Diamond Wow broke alertly under Romero Maragh and was in hand as she sat just off David’s Rose, who posted a half-mile time of 46.41 seconds. With little urging from Maragh, Diamond Wow took over the lead on the stretch turn and held off Harper Be Good, who came from a stalking position. Harper looked like a serious threat turning for home but was repelled by the winner.
The top pair were in a race by themselves in the five-horse field as Queen Camilla checked in third, 12 lengths behind Harper Be Good.
A Kentucky-bred daughter of Lookin At Lucky, Diamond Wow races for Biancone, 100 Racing Club and Amy E. Dunne.