Friday's Best Bet: She's So Special stuns in Franklin County
Friday’s 9th race from Keeneland is the Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes for fillies and mares dashing five and one-half furlongs on the turf course (Post Time 5:16 p.m. EDT).
No. 1 SHE’S SO SPECIAL (15-1) bounced back with a neck defeat in a flat mile turf affair at Del Mar Aug. 14. She won two turf races at this distance under Flavien Prat last year including the Desert Code Stakes, and she figures to stalk from the rail at square odds.
No. 7 Lead Guitar (10-1) won her final four turf sprints last year and has only raced twice in 2021. She was declared a non-starter in the Royal North (G2) Aug. 1. She was a clear runner-up in a short field in the Smart N Fancy at Saratoga on yielding ground Aug. 21, and winner Piedi Bianchi and show finisher Robin Sparkles were both next-out winners.
No. 4 Campanelle (7-2) won the Queen Mary (G2) and Prix Mornay (G1) last year, and clicked in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Ascot earlier this year. Wesley Ward is enjoying a fine meet and she is a logical contender in her first start in this country since the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) last fall. She will probably attend the pace under Joel Rosario.
No. 12 Change of Control (4-1) is back in a preferred sprint after stalking and finishing last in the Woodbine Mile (G1). She won the local Giant’s Causeway at this distance in the spring and an outside stalking trip is expected.
No. 5 In Good Spirits (9-2) is a sharp filly with tactical speed and a good middle post position.
No. 6 Catch a Bid (5-1) is a competent late running turf sprinter. Her recent form is solid and she should be finishing, but she probably wants a bit more real estate.
Get my Expert Santa Anita Park picks for today’s races
Wagers:
No. 1 to Win
Trifecta 4-7/1-4-7-12/1-4-5-6-7-12
Trifecta 4/ALL/1-7
Recent Best Bet Winners
Oct. 2 - Going To Vegas/Luck/Dogtag Trifecta ($38.00)
Oct. 3 - Mackinnon/Silver Surfer/Picota Trifecta ($100.80)
Oct. 5 - RESIST THE DEVIL ($9.00)
Oct. 6 - FAVORABLE OUTCOME ($4.60)
Oct. 8 - Special Reserve/Aloha West Exacta ($12.60)