Favored Caravel Kicks Clear to Win Franklin

Mare is cataloged to Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale

Qatar Racing Limited, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables’ Caravel surged past pacesetting Twilight Gleaming (IRE) passing the eighth pole and went on to post a 1¾-length victory in the 26^thrunning of the $300,000 Franklin (G3) for fillies and mares Sunday afternoon.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Caravel covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.59. It is the second victory in the race for Gaffalione, who guided Got Stormy to the win in the 2020 renewal.

Twilight Gleaming took the lead out of the gate and was hounded through fractions of :21.40 and :44.82 by Creative Credit to her inside while Caravel raced just behind the top two. At the head of the stretch, Gaffalione had Caravel in the three path with aim on the leaders, taking over after the eighth pole and securing enough of a cushion to hold off fast-closing Thundering Creed.

A 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter by Mizzen Mast out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, Caravel notched her third Grade 3 victory and ninth stakes victory overall as she improved her record to 19-11-0-3. Sunday’s victory was worth $143,375 and increased Caravel’s earnings to $811,152.

Caravel is cataloged to Book 1 of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 7. Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigns the mare, who is Hip 224 amd cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect.

For winning the Franklin, Caravel returned $6.88, $4.14 and $3.46. Thundering Creed, ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., returned $11.36 and $6.40 and finished a nose ahead of Star Devine (IRE), who paid $5.04 to show under Adam Beschizza.

It was another length back to Twilight Gleaming, who was followed in order by Have A Good Day (IRE), Creative Credit, Brooke Marie, Tobys Heart, Querobin Dourada, Bout Time and Elle Z.