OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jockey Manny Franco admitted that this has been “a little bit” of a tough week for him, with his losing the mount on four-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law going public Thursday. “I look forward, I don’t look back,” Franco said. “I’m a young rider, better opportunities will come.” In his first stakes opportunity since finishing sixth on Tiz the Law in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last Saturday at Keeneland, Franco guided Eagle Orb to a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Notebook Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Aqueduct. Eagle Orb was one of four horses who broke through the starting gate prior to the official start of the Notebook. Eagle Orb didn’t run off very far and was none the worse for the incident. :: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Aqueduct Clocker Report During the race, Franco had Eagle Orb down on the inside behind two horses, which suddenly became four horses entering the far turn after a pedestrian early pace. By the three-eighths pole, Franco was able to guide Eagle Orb to the outside and into the clear and by the quarter pole the son of Orb had his sights set on Blue Gator, who had taken a short lead. Eagle Orb collared Blue Gator by midstretch and gradually drew clear from that horse, who was the 7-5 favorite after winning his first two starts, including the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. Blue Gator finished second by 6 1/4 lengths over Market Alert, who nosed out Horn of Plenty for third. Lookin for Trouble, Storm Shooter, and Half Right completed the order of finish. It was Horn of Plenty, Half Right, Horn of Plenty, and Lookin for Trouble who broke through the starting gate, with their riders staying on, prior to the start of the race. Eagle Orb was turning back to six furlongs after dueling for the lead and ultimately finishing second to Brooklyn Strong in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes going a mile. Franco, who rode Eagle Orb in the Sleepy Hollow, said he didn’t want to get involved in the early pace Saturday. “I was trying not to take my horse too far off the pace, I don’t want to be there,” Franco said. “I want to be behind the speed and that’s what I’m trying to do. My horse settled nice for me and when I put him in the clear at the five-sixteenths he took me after that and he just opened up.” Eagle Orb, owned by EV Racing Stable and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.71 over a good track and returned $12.20 to win. It was one of two winners on the day for both Franco and Rodriguez. Rodriguez is off to a hot start at the Aqueduct meet with 7 wins from 19 starters, good enough to top the trainer standings after the first six days.