Ruby Notion faces tough assignment in Franklin County

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Under different circumstances, you’d have to guess Ruby Notion would be favored in the Franklin County Stakes. The 5-year-old mare comes off stakes wins at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs, a hot streak to typically overmatch the form of any rival.

But this is Keeneland, where highly accomplished horses convene from here, there, and everywhere. The bottom line is that Ruby Notion is one of just a half-dozen or so fillies and mares with a solid chance to emerge victorious when the Grade 3, $100,000 Franklin County is run Friday afternoon at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

“I’d think the odds are reflective of a good bunch of fillies,” said Darrin Miller, who trains Ruby Notion for his longtime client, the Silverton Hill Farm of Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton. “Sometimes with these turf sprinters, the races can shake out different every time – and this is a tough one.”

With Florent Geroux back to ride, Ruby Notion will break from post 12 in the Franklin Country, for which only as many as 14 will be permitted to start from an original slate of 16. The homebred daughter of Great Notion was 27-1 when upsetting the July 23 Caress Stakes at Saratoga, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, before punctuating that effort with a hard-fought triumph last month in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint.

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“She’s going into this race the right way, too, training really well,” said Miller. As for the outer post: “There are some fast fillies inside of us, so I’d prefer being out where we are.”

Capable opposition abounds. Maybe the slight wagering choice will be Belvoir Bay (post 3, Flavien Prat), who returns from a nearly four-month layoff looking to run back to her May 28 domination of the Grade 2 Monrovia at Santa Anita. Peter Miller trains the British-bred mare for Gary Barber and Team Valor International.

Other major threats in this 22nd running of the Franklin County include Morticia (post 6, Jose Lezcano), who won this race last fall for her trainer and co-breeder, Rusty Arnold; Chanteline (post 9, Ricardo Santana Jr.) and Girls Know Best (post 7, Jose Ortiz), the respective one-two finishers in the Smart N Fancy over the Saratoga turf in late August; and Brielle’s Appeal (post 13, Shaun Bridgmohan), beaten just a neck by Ruby Notion when third in the KD Ladies Sprint.

Those seeking an upset include Con Te Partiro (post 2, Albin Jimenez) and Delectation (post 4, Tyler Gaffalione), both from the always-dangerous Wesley Ward barn, and Smiling Causeway (post 11, Julien Leparoux), who registered a 100 Beyer in winning the Turf Amazon in July for trainer Arnaud Delacour.

Among the big longshots is Country Chick (post 5, Carlos Esquilin), whose allowance victory last month resulted in the highest $2 win mutuel ($248.60) anywhere in North America this year and in Kentucky Downs history.

First post Friday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the Franklin County, the ninth of 10 races, going at 5:30. It’s a key link in a 50-cent late pick four (races 7-10) with a $200,000 pool guarantee.