Kentucky Downs: Howard Wolowitz wins Franklin-Simpson
Post-time favorite Howard Wolowitz came out of a close pack, bumped his closest rival and survived an objection to win by one length Saturday in the 6 1/2-furlong, $1,847,100 Franklin-Simpson Stakes, the first-ever Grade 1 race to be run at Kentucky Downs.
Owned by Al Gold under the name Gold Square and trained by José D’Angelo, the Munnings colt who had been just a lightly raced maiden winner broke from post 10. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., he was well positioned early along the outside as Joe Shiesty (14-1) led the field of a dozen 3-year-olds through early fractions of 21.88 and 44.39 seconds for the first quarter- and half-mile.
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Named for a character from “The Big Bang Theory” TV comedy, Howard Wolowitz (3-1) briefly put his head in front at the top of the long stretch. He was overtaken by Yellow Card (6-1) through a mile in 1:07.86 before determinedly fighting back for the victory in 1:14.20 over the firm course. The time was 0.01 seconds off the track record set by Ag Bullet last Saturday.
“They were very high on the horse,” Ortiz said. “The horse got a good post, broke good, put me in position to bide my time. When I asked him, I was full of horse. I was close to the leaders. I was a little wide, but I was close. Before the quarter pole I was like third, outside of Tyler (Gaffalione on Apollo Ten). From there I felt like I had some horse. I let him do his thing. He made the lead kind of a little early.”
In the deep stretch, Howard Wolowitz veered out and made contact with Yellow Card, who would finish second. Jockey John Velázquez claimed interference, but stewards decided not to change the order of finish.
“There was enough contact where he got my horse off balance, and the other one took off again,” Velázquez said. “My horse ran well. I am disappointed, but he ran good.”
“(Howard Wolowitz) kind of looked around, so I corrected, got a hold of him,” Ortiz said. “(Yellow Card) was coming outside, and I wanted him to feel him a little bit, because he put his ears up like he felt a little weird when he made the lead. He felt that one like he wants to fight, so I hit him a couple of times, and he responded really well and drew away.”
After Howard Wolowitz and Yellow Card, it was Mansa Musa (5-1) who finished third and Evade (18-1) fourth. Please Advise (11-1), Bear River (17-1), Hedwig (6-1), Smokey Smokey (40-1), General Ledger (14-1), Apollo Ten (5-1), Vote No (27-1), Joe Shiesty (14-1) completed the order of finish. The also-eligibles Barksdale, Where Ya At Vince, Save the Trees and How's Ur Attitude were scratched.
Howard Wolowitz paid $8.12, $5.20 and $3.64; Yellow Card $6.36 and $4.60; and Mansa Musa $4.16.
The victory was the first career Grade 1 win for D’Angelo.
“I really was very confident in him. He is a nice horse,” he said. “He is hard to train. He has his own personality like his name, so I was pretty sure that the more ground for him and the long stretch was going to help him. And when Irad asked him turning for home, he responded very well.”
D’Angelo said he was a little nervous when he saw the objection posted.
“I was a little worried, but I didn’t see nothing live,” D’Angelo said. “When I don’t see something, I am usually right. This is Kentucky Downs. You have ups and downs out there. You don’t know for sure.”
The win moved Howard Wolowitz to 4: 2-0-0, adding $1,176,600 on Saturday to bring his total earnings to $1,215,100. He finished a close fourth last out in the listed Mahony Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong race Aug. 11 at Saratoga. The horses who ran fourth, sixth and seventh in that $150,000 race filled out the trifecta Saturday at Kentucky Downs.