For its first 27 runnings, the Franklin (G2) has not attracted any European-based runners.
That figures to change Sunday when Abdulla Al Mansoori’s Frost At Dawn goes postward in the $350,000 test going 5½ furlongs on the turf.
The attraction for Frost At Dawn is a possible shot at the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
“We didn’t qualify for the Breeders’ (Cup) in Europe, so we decided to try here,” said Michelle Gross, who is overseeing the 3-year-old filly’s preparation for trainer William Knight.
“She got here Sunday after a couple days in quarantine at Churchill. She’s doing very well and she traveled well.”
Frost At Dawn finished 10th against males in the “Win and You’re In” Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe (G1) at York in England behind standouts Bradsell and Believing “and then she caught soft ground in her last start at Ayr,” Gross said.
Even though the Franklin will be the initial U.S. race for Frost At Dawn, she will be meeting a rival from March from Dubai in Star of Mystery (GB).
Frost At Dawn beat Star of Mystery by 2½ lengths going 5 furlongs at Meydan in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) on March 2. Four weeks later in the 6-furlong Al Quoz Sprint (G1), Frost At Dawn weakened late to finish 10th while Star of Mystery was second.
Godolphin’s Star of Mystery has made her past two starts at Saratoga for trainer Charlie Appleby.