Tight photo favors Miss Ella in Franklin County Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – This time, the photo turned out a bit different.
Out-nodded in their last encounter, Miss Ella got first run on Fair Point in winning the Grade 3, $100,000 Franklin County Stakes on an overcast but pleasant Friday afternoon at Keeneland.
Last time they met, Fair Point defeated Miss Ella by a head in the Aug. 28 Smart N Fancy on the Saratoga turf. But after both lagged well back in a full field of female turf sprinters, Miss Ella circled the front-runners with a big outside run before holding off favored Fair Point by a neck in this 20th running of the Franklin County.
“I got the jump this time,” said Joel Rosario, who was aboard Miss Ella for owner-breeder Jack Swain III and trainer Graham Motion.
Miss Ella returned $8.20 as second choice after finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.52 over firm going. It was her fourth stakes victory, and second at Keeneland – but first on turf – from 13 career starts. A 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, Miss Ella won the Grade 2 Beaumont at the 2015 Keeneland spring meet in just her second career start. This was the first year the Franklin County was a graded race.
“This filly is really tough,” said Motion. “She was very good today.”
Smoke Signals, a 58-1 shot, rallied late up the rail to be third, another 2 1/4 lengths behind Fair Point. Full Tap, who made a bold run leaving the turn, had to settle for fourth. Four also-eligibles were scratched, leaving a field of 12.
The $2 exacta (9-11) paid $24.20, the $1 trifecta (9-11-7) returned $388.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (9-11-7-12) was worth $286.70.
Ontrack attendance was 18,363.
Racing resumes Saturday at Keeneland at 1:05 p.m. with a 10-race card anchored by the sixth and final Grade 1 race of the 17-day fall meet, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old turf fillies.