Try to catch Joe Franklin in Capossela Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The $100,000 Fred “Cappy” Capossela has a new date on the Aqueduct stakes calendar, but trainer Kelly Breen and owners George and Lori Hall are hoping for the same result as last year when they send out Joe Franklin in Friday’s 114th running of the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds.
Last March 8, Breen and the Halls won the Capossela with Oliver Zip, who went gate to wire over the inner track. Joe Franklin, coming off an allowance win at Penn National on Nov. 29, will likely to try to employ the same tactics breaking from the rail under Chuck C. Lopez.
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“He’s always been quick out of the gate,” Breen said. “We’re happy with what we’ve seen so far. It looks like we’ll be gunning for the lead.”
Ship Disturber and Don Lupe also have shown a bit of early speed in their races.
Majestic Affair, a gelding by Majesticperfection who finished second in a stakes last out at Laurel Park, looks like the best closer in the field.
Made Bail, a shipper from the barn of owner/trainer Susan Cooney, completes the field.
With only five runners, the Capossela will go as the third race on the nine-race program.
Fred Capossela Stakes, race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Joe Franklin (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-70)
◗ After finishing second to Golden Years in his debut, Joe Franklin won a maiden race at Laurel and an allowance race at Penn National. Golden Years has won 3 of 4 starts, including two stakes.
◗ Breen said that Joe Franklin went to Penn National as a companion for Bern Identity, who was running in a stakes race that same night. Breen said that Joe Franklin missed a scheduled start in a Maryland stakes on Nov. 15 due to a temperature.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Joe Franklin. Trainer Kelly Breen is 5-5-0-0 with a $7.50 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints in the second start following a layoff with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Dan Illman
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Ship Disturber (Beyer: 81)
◗ Took advantage of his inside speed to win his debut by 5 1/4 lengths at odds of 11-1 on the Cigar Mile undercard when speed and the rail were golden.
“I wasn’t shocked. He had shown some high quality,” trainer Rick Violette said. “He’s a funny horse. He doesn’t necessarily breeze bullets in the morning but he had done some things like taking dirt in his face and when set down he had done things right. I was surprised he did it so comfortably.”
◗ Violette had planned to run in an allowance race but did not find one that filled.
Majestic Affair (Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-58)
◗ Comes off a second-place finish to Cinco Charlie in the James F. Lewis Stakes at Laurel. Cinco Charlie came back to win the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds.
◗ Could get a good setup if Joe Franklin gets hooked by Ship Disturber or Don Lupe early.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Majestic Affair. Trainer Chad Brown is 19-4-4-3 with a $1.21 ROI over the past five years in sprints on the Aqueduct inner dirt track following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan