Post shift gives Sonora edge in Franklin Square

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When My Super Nova defeated Sonora by a head in a six-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park in October, she may have benefitted from having a midpack draw while Sonora had to break from post 11 in the 12-horse field.

Fast forward 101 days, and when the two meet again at Aqueduct in Sunday’s $125,000 Franklin Square Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies, the speedy Sonora will break from post 2 while My Super Nova breaks from the outside post in the 10-horse field.

For a winter stakes, the Franklin Square came up a competitive and bettable event in a field that includes the Rick Violette-trained pair of Golden Gem and Graeme Crackers as well as the returning pair of Hard to Stay Notgo and Nonna Joe.

:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Sunday

KEY CONTENDERS

◗ Sonora (Beyers: 73-73)

She had similar trips in her first two starts, pressing the pace three wide when drawn on the outside. She fell a head short in her debut to My Super Nova before rolling to a 4 1/2-length win over a fast main track Nov. 23.

“I think mentally she’s improved,” trainer Eddie Kenneally said from south Florida. “She’s really, really confident right now and doing very, very well. I think now is a good time to take a shot.”

◗ Asked about moving from the outside to post 2, Kenneally said, “I think that’ll be perfect.”

My Super Nova (Last 3 Beyers: 46-56-73)

◗ After defeating Sonora in October, My Super Nova shows two bad efforts with excuses. She stumbled badly at the break of the Key Cents Stakes and never got involved, finishing fifth as the 4-5 favorite. She probably found the mile and 70 yards of the East View Stakes too far when finishing a well-beaten fourth behind Freudie Anne.

◗ She shows a solid work tab for her return to six furlongs and picks up jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Golden Gem (Beyer: 74)

◗ She ran very well when coming from off the pace over Aqueduct’s main track to win her debut by 3 1/2 lengths last November.
“She ran like an older horse: took some dirt, proceeded when asked to make her run,” Violette said.

◗ She shows a solid, steady work tab for her first start in nearly three months.

Graeme Crackers (Beyer: 68)

◗ She won her debut at Saratoga, beating the subsequent three-time winner The Lewis Dinner.

◗ She was pulled up and vanned off in the Seeking the Ante Stakes on Aug. 24 and hasn’t raced since. Violette said that Graeme Crackers bruised a cannon bone in that race and added that he believes her calling may ultimately be on turf.
“All her siblings were stone-cold turf horses, but she’s won on the dirt, and we’ll give her a shot to prove me right or wrong,” Violette said.