Franny Freud scores in Prioress

Franny Freud now boasts seven stakes wins (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

Paul Pompa Jr., Stephen Yarbrough and Winter Park Partners’ FRANNY
FREUD (Freud) tracked the early pace in Sunday’s $245,000

Prioress S. (G1) at Belmont Park, took over entering the stretch and
pulled off the 1 3/4-length victory under Garrett Gomez. Sent off the
3-5 favorite, the John Terranova II-trained sophomore finished up six
furlongs on the fast main track in 1:10.

“Well-deserved!” Terranova stated. “I’m very happy for her; I’m very
happy for everyone. We didn’t know how fast the early fractions were
going to be. Of course, there was a lot of speed in the race, but she’s
fast and Garrett just kind of let her settle into her spot. It looked
like she was just waiting to pounce. I know how good she is and I’m glad
she got the Grade 1 under her belt, because she deserves it. If
everything is well, we’ll look at the (August 7) Test (G1) in Saratoga.”

Stormandaprayer (Songandaprayer) moved up from her far outside 5 post
to take command when the gates opened, setting an opening half-mile in a
swift :21 4/5 and :44 4/5. The bay miss couldn’t sustain that pace,
though, and Franny Freud was in the perfect spot to grab the lead after
stalking just in behind while three wide. She gained the advantage while
rounding the turn through five furlongs in :56 4/5 and drifted a bit in
the stretch, but was always holding over a closing Champagne d’Oro
(Medaglia d’Oro).

“She’s just all horse,” Gomez said. “She’s a little bitty thing but
she gives 120 percent. As far as how far she’ll go, she just keeps
answering questions for everybody, including her fans. She’s a New
York-bred doing good things.”

Franny Freud paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 while keying the $14.20
exacta and $17.40 trifecta (3-2-1). Champagne d’Oro, the 6-1 third
choice following a win in the Acorn S. (G1) over the track, gave back $4
and $2.40 for finishing a half-length in front of Bonnie Blue Flag
(Mineshaft), who returned $2.10 as the 2-1 second choice.
Stormandaprayer followed by another 3 3/4 lengths with Funny Feeling
(Distorted Humor) a distant last.

Franny Freud has now captured eight and placed in two of her 11
lifetime starts while accumulating $686,029 in career earnings. Since
breaking her maiden by seven lengths over this track in May 2009, the
bay filly’s other seven wins have all come in stakes, including the Lady
Finger S., Ontario Debutante S. and Fifth Avenue S. as a juvenile. This
year she’s added the Beaumont S. (G2), New York Stallion S. (Park Avenue
division) and New York Stallion S. to her line.