Sunday's Best Bet: Wakanaka might get there in Franklin
Sunday’s seventh race at Keeneland is the Grade 2 Franklin Stakes for fillies and mares dashing 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 4:12 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Keeneland entries and results.
No. 2 Wakanaka (5-1) did not get much pace help in her last two turf sprints, but she ran well in both of those races. She missed by a neck as the beaten favorite at Kentucky Downs last time, and she cuts back a furlong and should get a better setup in this spot. She won the Fall Harvest Stakes at Keeneland last fall.
No. 7 Star Guest (4-1) ships in from Great Britain for Charles Appleby. She fired trifecta shots in all seven starts and won her last two turf sprints. The sophomore filly seems to be on the upswing.
No. 1 Caravel (9-5) stalked and scored in this event last fall, and she upset the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in her next start. She won her first three turf-sprint stakes races this year before stubbing her toe on soft ground in the Troy at Saratoga last time. She is 3-for-3 at Keeneland and should attend the pace from the inside post under Tyler Gaffalione.
No. 8 Tony Ann (8-1) is a consistent turf performer for Phil D’Amato. She usually finishes in the top three on turf and projects an outer stalking trip under new pilot Flavien Prat. She finished a head behind Wakanaka at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9.
Get Jarrod’s Santa Anita analysis.
Wagers
No. 2 to win
Exacta 2-7/2-7-8
Trifecta 1-2-7/1-2-7/8
Recent best bet winners
Sept. 24 – Honor D Lady/Ancient Peace exacta ($104.60)
Sept. 25 – Rosa ($9), exacta ($32)
Sept. 27 – Tiger Moon ($5.70)
Sept. 29 – Kirstenbosch ($15)
Oct. 4 – Agate Road ($6.90), exacta ($63), trifecta ($119.48)
Oct. 5 – Portage ($7.30)
Tuesday - Warrior's Ransom ($12.80)