OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Repole Stables' homebred Clipthecouponannie is set to make her stakes debut on Saturday, taking on the venerable Frosty Margarita in the $125,000 Franklin Square for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Clipthecouponannie, slightly favored at 7-5 in the six-horse field, enters the Franklin Square undefeated in her two lone contests against state-bred fillies over the Aqueduct inner track. On December 20, the bay daughter of Uncle Mo settled close to a sharp early pace before drawing off to break her maiden by a geared-down 4 ¾ lengths.
The Todd Pletcher trainee was scratched out of the Ruthless Stakes on January 17, pointed instead for an optional claiming event 11 days later. Sent off as the 1-10 favorite, Clipthecouponannie led gate-to-wire to post a five-length victory in her first start against winners under regular jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Ortiz has the return call aboard Clipthecouponannie, who will leave from the innermost post.
Boasting four wins and three second-place finishes from seven career races for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Frosty Margarita brings the most seasoned resume into the Franklin Square. The Frost Giant filly has posted a trio of stakes wins since her July unveiling, including a three-length victory in the Key Cents on November 22 and a game, albeit narrow, score over stablemate Katniss the Victor in her sophomore debut in the Maddie May on January 31.
Owned and bred by Gabrielle Farm, Frosty Margarita will be ridden by Jose Ortiz as the 8-5 second choice on the morning line. The pair is set to break from the outside post 6.
Joining the mix are Lynbrook Stakes winner Wonderment, making her first start since July, from the barn of Kenny McPeek; two-time inner track winner Stones of Navarone for Bruce Levine; East View hero Absatootly for Charlton Baker; and Turfway Park import Red Atlantic for owner-trainer James Spicer.
Frosty Margarita, Clipthecouponannie square off in Franklin Square
December 10, 2019