Stonewall Star cruises to front-running win in Franklin Square Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On a day when speed was more of an advantage at Aqueduct than it typically is, Stonewall Star carried hers from start to finish under Kendrick Carmouche to post a 6 1/4-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Franklin Square Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Little Linzee finished second by three-quarters of a length over Security Code, who was a head better than Banterra for third. Lockbox was fifth, followed by Starry Midnight. Queens Masterpiece was scratched.

The win was the third from six starts for Stonewall Star, a daughter of Flatter owned and bred by Barry Schwartz, who owns Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, N.Y. Stonewall Star is trained by Horacio De Paz.

Stonewall Star, who won the Key Cents Stakes by four lengths here in November, came into the Franklin Square off a third-place finish in the Gin Talking Stakes going seven furlongs at Laurel.

De Paz called Sunday’s victory straight forward.

“I told Kendrick just have fun, his type of filly,” De Paz said, referring to Carmouche’s preferred front-running style. “She ran well. I still think she can compete [in] open company [when] controlling speed.”

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Breaking from the outside post in the six-horse field, Stonewall Star cleared the field and had a one-length advantage over Banterra through an opening quarter in 22.93 seconds. She maintained relatively the same margin through a half-mile in 46.30. When Carmouche asked his filly to run turning for home, Stonewall Star opened up and drew away.

“It looked like I’m the speed of the race, the track is favoring speed, just break and go and make yourself a winner,” Carmouche said. “The first quarter I had it easy, going down the backside when I asked her she leveled off and did everything perfect.”

Stonewall Star covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.20 and returned $4.20 as the favorite.

While De Paz said he would be willing to try Stonewall Star seven furlongs again in the future, her six-furlong options in New York include the Cicada, against open company on March 18 or the East View for New York-breds on March 24. Both races have $100,000 purses.

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