College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End awards $40,000 in scholarships
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Perry Harrison’s Change of Control was first out of the gate and first to the finish line in posting a 11⁄2-length victory over 62-1 longshot Ambassador Luna in the 25th running of the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) for fillies and mares on a rainy Friday afternoon.
Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Colby Hernandez, Change of Control covered the 51⁄2 furlongs on a turf course labeled yielding in 1:05.89.
“I knew we weren’t going to be able to see much (in the driving rain), and we were laughing about what the horses thought about being out in this kind of rain – whether it was fun or not, because it wasn’t for us. But that was a lot of fun. I couldn’t see anything. It’s a good thing you had the numbers up on the board,” Lovell remarked.
On training Change of Control, who gave Lovell her first Keeneland stakes win in the Giant’s Causeway in April and now is her first graded stakes winner: “She’s been so classy and so talented, and she just gives so much every single time we put her in the gate, so I love her very much. She’s been awesome.”
On whether racing in the Breeders’ Cup has been part of the plan for Change of Control’s races: “No, it hasn’t been. We’ve thought that track (Del Mar) probably wouldn’t play well for her, so we’re happy to be here and we’ll find another spot.”
With the victory, Change of Control became the fourth horse to win the Giant’s Causeway (L) during Keeneland’s Spring Meet and come back in the Fall Meet to win the Buffalo Trace Franklin County. The others were Dyna Da Wyna (2004), Confessional (2001) and Ayrial Delight (1999).
It is the second Keeneland stakes victory for Lovell and Hernandez, both coming with Change of Control.
“It was a little tough. When we broke out of the gate I looked over and she was a little in front, but you couldn’t see that good out there. But she broke very sharp, I was able to get in a good position and then sit and wait, and when I called on her she finished up strong,” explained Hernandez.
Ambassador Luna quickly overtook Change of Control after the start and led the field of 10 through a first quarter mile in :22.66 as Change of Control raced fourth while in the clear.
In the stretch, Ambassador Luna shook off bids from In Good Spirits and Yes It’s Ginger but could not hold off the charge of Change of Control, who assumed control just before the sixteenth pole.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Change of Control is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Fed Biz out of the Quiet American mare America’s Blossom.
With Friday’s $90,000 winner’s share, Change of Control increased her earnings to $656,775 with a record of 30-8-6-6. It was her second graded stakes victory and fourth stakes triumph overall.
Change of Control returned $14.60, $7.60 and $4.20. Ambassador Luna, ridden by James Graham, returned $42.40 and $12.80 while finishing a neck in front of favored Campanelle (IRE) who rallied for third and paid $3 to show under Joel Rosario.
Wesley Ward, trainer of third-place finisher and beaten favorite Campanelle- IRE: “She got smashed leaving the gate and got shuffled back and came running (at the end).”
Did that cost her the race? “That is what the jock (Joel Rosario) said.”
It was another 41⁄4 lengths back to In Good Spirits with Lagertha (CHI), Yes It’s Ginger, Catch a Bid, Lead Guitar, Violenza and She’s So Special following in order.
Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with winning connections.
College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End awards $40,000 in scholarships
Today was College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End. A total of $40,000 in college scholarships were available to full-time college students who participated either online or in person. The winners of two $10,000 scholarships from Lane’s End were Kyle Hampton from the University of Louisville and Erica McKind from Kentucky State University.
“I started coming to the races (this past spring) and found out I had a real passion for horse racing,” Hampton, a 19-year-old sophomore, said. “So I changed my major to equine business at the University of Louisville. I would love to work in the equine industry.”
“I’m so happy,” said McKind, a 20-year-old junior. “This means so much to me. I study criminal justice, so my goal is to finish school at Kentucky State and then start as a local cop and work my way up to chief of police.”
For info on the Best Breeders’ Cup Seminar click HERE.
Keeneland Press Release
Top Photo: Change of Control (Keeneland)
