Lady Shipman Taking On Formidable Field in $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes

Lady Shipman has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 6-5 for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.  A three-year-old daughter of Midshipman, she is one of three sophomore fillies in the race taking on older rivals. The chestnut filly has won eight of her ten starts and comes into this race off of four consecutive victories against stakes competition at Monmouth Park and Saratoga. She will have regular rider Eduardo Nunez aboard and they will break from post position four.

Ageless looking for second straight victory

Second choice at morning line odds of 3-1 is Ageless for trainer Arnaud Delacour. A six-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal, she is a ten-time winner and a multiple graded stakes winner. She has been on the board in all four starts this year since finishing fourth against male rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) last year and was last seen winning the Royal North Stakes (G3). Julian Leparoux will be aboard from post position five.

Free as a Bird trying for a repeat in this race

Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Free as a Bird for trainer Ian Wilkes. A six-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, she has won nine of her 26 career outings and won this race last year as part of a seven-race win streak. She is trying for her first victory of the year and has been second in her last three starts. Joe Bravo will be in the irons and they are scheduled to break from post position six as she tries for a breakthrough win.