Free as a Bird flies in Franklin County

Free as a Bird soared in a rain-soaked Franklin County (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Elizabeth J. Valando’s homebred Free as a Bird came with a spirited run down
the center of the yielding turf in Friday’s $100,000

Franklin County Stakes at
Keeneland and prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths on the wire. With Joel Rosario
aboard, the 5-2 second choice paid $7.20 while finishing 5 1/2 furlongs on the
green in 1:03 3/5.

Rosario settled Free as a Bird into a midpack stalking spot as Richies
Sweetheart set the pace through splits of :21 2/5, :45 and :57 1/5. Ageless
hopped at the start and found herself in the unusual spot of being near the
back, but recovered and split rivals on the turn. The 9-5 favorite came with a
furious rally down the center of the track, but Free as a Bird was just
beginning her move.

The Hard Spun chestnut was five wide entering the lane and powered down the
stretch to earn her fifth straight stakes victory. The only thing keeping it
from being a seven-race win streak was a close second she recorded behind
Ageless in the Giant’s Causeway over course and distance during Keeneland’s
spring meet.

“It was a good trip. Every time she runs, she’s getting better. She’s more
professional. She’s learning,” Rosario stated before adding, “She made it easy
for me. I thought they were going a little quick (up front). I knew we’d be able
to come up from off the pace.”

Free as a Bird (far outside, white cap) circled nearly the entire field rounding the turn (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

“The post killed me,” groaned Shaun Bridgmohan, who was aboard Sky Treasure.
“She left there but then I got squeezed at the start with the rail being up.
(There) wasn’t much room there, so obviously I got farther back than I wanted to
be but I thought she came running and gave me everything she had.”

Richies
Sweetheart, Eden Prairie, Vuitton, Quay, Flower Spell, Macaroon, In a Jif and
Quality Lass completed the order under the wire. The showery weather and
rain-softened turf resulted in the scratches of To My Valentine and Jewel of a
Cat as well as also-eligibles Liz Pendens and Soft Whisper.

Free as a Bird is now 6-2-0 from eight starts this season, including her five
career stakes victories that began in the License Fee and Intercontinental at
Belmont Park. The Ian
Wilkes trainee followed those with scores in
Saratoga‘s Caress
and Smart & Fancy before adding the Franklin County to her resume.

“I shortened her up. I tried to make her go longer. She was just a little too
rank when I ran her longer. I shortened her up from anywhere from five to seven
furlongs, and she’s consistent,” Wilkes explained Free as a Bird’s current win
streak. “She’s very versatile. She can be close. She can be back out of it.”