Keeneland: Oleksandra (AUS) Rallies to Win Buffalo Trace Franklin County

By Amy Owens —-

Click here for a video of the fun and excitement at Keeneland on Big Blue Day at the Races.

Oleksandra (AUS) Rallies to Win Buffalo Trace Franklin County

LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 11, 2019) – Team Valor International’s Oleksandra (AUS) found racing room between Morticia and the pacesetting Girls Know Best in deep stretch and went on to win the 23rd running of the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) for fillies and mares by two lengths over Morticia before a Friday afternoon crowd of 19,026.

Trained by Neil Drysdale and ridden by Joel Rosario, Oleksandra covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:01.79.

Rosario, won his third graded stakes through the first six days of the Fall Meet, recorded his third victory in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County. He also won with Free as a Bird in 2014 and Miss Ella in 2016.

Girls Know Best rocketed out of the gate and established a clear lead with Morticia in closest pursuit through fractions of :21.73 and :44.17 as Oleksandra received a ground-saving trip along the rail.

In the stretch, Oleksandra angled off the rail inside the sixteenth pole, drove between the leaders in deep stretch and went on to the victory.

The victory was worth $90,000 and increased Oleksandra’s earnings to $359,853 with a record of 13-6-2-3. It is the first graded stakes victory for the 5-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom out of the Caesour mare Alexandra Rose (SAF).

Morticia, the 2017 Buffalo Trace Franklin County winner, picked up $30,000 for running second and boosted her earnings to $1,019,669

Sent off as the slight favorite in the field of 10, Oleksandra returned $7, $3.60 and $2.40. Morticia, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $4 and $2.60 and finished a neck in front of Girls Know Best who paid $2.80 to show under Corey Lanerie.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to A Little Bit Me, who was followed in order by Violent Times, Painting Corners, Ruby Notion, Miss Gossip (IRE), Beechwood Ella (IRE) and Take These Chains (IRE).

Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET that features the 36th running of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The QE II will go as the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:30 p.m. post time.

Quotes from the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3)

Click here for a replay of the race and the post-race interview with the winning connections

Joel Rosario (winning rider of Oleksandra [AUS])
“She just relaxed, and then she came with a big run. She had a tremendous turn of foot. It seemed like I had room to go through (an opening between rivals). She was just rolling at the end.”

Barry Irwin (Founder and CEO of Team Valor International, owner of Oleksandra)

“She had such a head of steam. You knew she had the energy, but whether there was room … Usually (Rosario) won’t go in a place where he’s not going to get out. I felt pretty confident he was on it.”

On whether she will be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup

“If I look at it from an intellectual point of view, the answer would be ‘No.’ When emotions get involved and a horse wins like this, anything is possible.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Morticia)
“The race set up exactly the way I thought it would. Girls Know Best went to the lead, set a nice pace and we sat right off of her. I knew it would be a fight to the finish because that mare doesn’t stop and Morticia tries hard to the wire. I knew we would be battling it out. I had a perfect trip, but the winner was just much the best today. It was a great race and I am proud of Morticia. She became a millionaire today so that is extra special.”

Corey Lanerie (rider of third-place finisher Girls Know Best)
“She’s a great horse to ride – she’s a rider’s dream. It’s a shame we didn’t win but she always seems to break very well and put you in front. Then it’s your race to win or lose. Turning for home, I thought I had a lot in the tank but they just outran us today.”

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For more information contact Amy Gregory at 859 361-3490 or Amy Owens at 859 421-2566