Franny Freud cruises in Beaumont

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Franny Freud posted an easy victory as the odds-on favorite Wednesday in the at Keeneland, setting up the New York-bred filly for a possible run on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Always in control after breaking sharply under Garrett Gomez, Franny Freud drew clear to win the 25th running of the $150,000 Beaumont by 4 3/4 lengths.

"She did everything right," said Gomez. "When I set her down, she went ahead and put it out there and sprinted away home."

Trainer John Terranova, who trains the bay filly for the partnership of Paul Pompa Jr., Stephen Yarbrough, and Anthony Grey, said afterward that the Grade 3 Eight Belles on Derby Day, May 1, could be next, with the April 30 Kentucky Oaks an outside possibility.

"We'll put our heads together and see how she comes back," said Terranova.

Franny Freud returned $3 after finishing the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in 1:26.89 over Polytrack.

Chantilly Nayla rallied on the turn to take second, another four lengths before Diva Delite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Franny Freud, by the longtime New York-based sire Freud, now has won 5 of 8 starts, with four of her wins coming in stakes, albeit two of them restricted. A runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita in her previous start in January also is a notable part of her record. She earned $90,000, lifting her bankroll to $416,029.

Ontrack attendance on a mostly cloudy but warm afternoon was 8,783.