Midnight Concerto, Franco win the bob in Yaddo Stakes
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Even when he’s not on the best horse, Manny Franco finds the winner’s circle at Saratoga.
Franco, aboard Midnight Concerto, found a seam to split horses in upper stretch and was able to outfinish a slow-starting, six-wide rallying Being Betty to win Sunday’s $200,000 Yaddo Stakes by a nose in a three-way blanket finish. It was a neck back to Sail With the Wind in third. Awesome Czech, last year’s Yaddo winner and the 6-5 favorite Sunday, finished fourth.
The win was the fourth of the day for Franco, one day after he won the Grade 1 Travers on Leading Change. The huge Sunday gave Franco 63 wins at the meet, two behind Jose Ortiz for leading honors heading into the final six days of the season. Ortiz is expected only to ride one more day at Saratoga as he’ll be at Kentucky Downs the rest of the time.
In the winner’s circle, Franco cut short talk of trying to win the rider’s title.
“I don’t think about that, I’m just riding my horses, trying to get the best out of them,” Franco said. “After that, when you win, it’s good. I’m not looking for that [riding tile], I’m riding horses.”
Ortiz rode Midnight Concerto to an allowance win here Aug. 13 but was at Kentucky Downs on Sunday.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said he secured Franco not too long after that race. Midnight Concerto got a solid enough pace Sunday in which to close as she was in front of only Being Betty coming to the quarter pole.
Franco found room in between Brokealltherules and Spinning Colors in upper stretch, an opening that got a little tight when Brokealltherules came out a touch.
“Brokealltherules went to the outside a little bit, so I said ‘Let’s go now,’ but she didn’t hesitate, she just went to the hole and helped me,” Franco said. “After that, I had to hold off the horses outside and she was brave.”
One of those horses was Being Betty, who defeated Midnight Concerto by a half-length in the Mount Vernon here in June. Being Betty, typically a forward runner, moved her head as the gate sprang open and broke slowly out of the gate. Javier Castellano, riding Being Betty for the first time, allowed his mare to settle. He guided her six wide turning for home, and she showed a powerful late kick, but lost the bob.
“She hopped out of there, I lose all the momentum,” Castellano said. “I used my best judgment, I didn’t rush, I took my time. I step outside, she came running, she flew. I know she’s always been up there every time, but with that break I had to do something different.”
Midnight Concerto, a 5-year-old daughter of Mendelssohn owned by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables, covered the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.06 and returned $6.94 as the second choice.
Midnight Concerto was shortening up from two longer-distance races, but McPeek didn’t mind shortening her up in distance while facing New York-bred company and coming back on relatively short rest.
“She ran this distance when she ran against Being Betty last time,” McPeek said. “She was 17 days in between [races], that’s asking a bit sometimes, but she’s dappled head to toe and obviously got it done.”
Midnight Concerto and Being Betty could face each other again in the Ticonderoga Stakes on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park.
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