How to bet the 2021 Franklin County Stakes

A total of 12 fillies and mares will go postward in Friday’s $150,000 Franklin County S. (G3) at Keeneland. The 5 1/2-furlong dash on the turf is led by multiple Group 1 heroine #4 Campanelle (7-2) for conditioner Wesley Ward, and I have a hard time looking past the fantastic sophomore.

A debut winner at two, the daughter of Kodiac had an impressive juvenile campaign and proved that it was not a fluke as she dead-heated for the victory in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot in her three-year-old bow in June. The Irish-bred didn’t handle the soft going at Deauville in her most recent assignment, but a return to the states should do the slight morning-line choice a lot of good in this spot.

Campanelle has posted four morning moves at Keeneland in advance of her local debut, and I expect her to be at the top of her game in the affair with Joel Rosario riding for a barn that is off to a flying start at the meeting.

Al Stall’s #5 In Good Spirits (9-2) has been in very good form this season and comes off arguably her best effort to date when driving clear in the Ladies Sprint S. (G3) at Kentucky Downs last time out. The bay filly by Ghostzapper has found her niche as a one-turn turf sprinter and she comes in with John Velazquez in the stirrups once again.

#7 Lead Guitar (10-1) has exotics appeal for conditioner George Weaver. By Maclean’s Music, the five-year-old mare closed out 2020 with a trio of wins in succession to prove her class, and the bay was a very good second in the Smart N Fancy S. at Saratoga in her latest endeavor. She seems poised to factor late under the guidance of Ricardo Santana.

Joe Sharp’s #6 Catch A Bid (5-1) and local stakes heroine #12 Change of Control (4-1) also merit inclusion in my vertical plays.

Franklin County Wagers

• $4 exacta key box 4 with 5, 6, 7, 12 ($32)
• 50-cent superfecta 4 with 5, 7 with 5, 6, 7, 12 with all ($27)