Horse Racing Odds: Franklin-Simpson Stakes

Share News

Horse Racing Odds and News

Kentucky Downs $2 Million Franklin-Simpson Stakes: Horse Racing Preview

The 2024 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs is set to be a landmark event as the track hosts its first-ever Grade 1 race. 

With a purse of $2 million on the line, an entire field of 12 horses, plus four also-eligibles, has been entered, making this race one of the most exciting races during the weekend for offtrack betting fans.

Top Contenders and Notable Entrants

Leading the pack is Evade, a former Group 3 runner-up in France and winner of a handicap at Epsom, now making his U.S. debut under trainer Mike Maker. Evade was recently gelded, and fans will be eager to see how he performs stateside. 

Maker’s other entries include Smokey Smokey, who won the Paradise Creek Stakes during the Belmont meet at Aqueduct, and Save the Trees, an Ellis Park allowance winner currently on the also-eligible list and needs scratches to compete.

Other notable contenders include Apollo Ten, trained by Christophe Clement, who recently finished third in the Mahony Stakes, an exciting race in Saratoga betting. Bear River, trained by J. Keith Desormeaux, is another stakes winner in the field, though his recent sixth-place finish in the Van Clief Stakes leaves room for improvement. 

Meanwhile, Joe Shiesty enters the race after a disappointing seventh-place effort in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint but remains a capable competitor based on his earlier form.

Stakes Winners Ready to Battle

Additional stakes winners in the lineup are Vote No, Please Advise, and Howard Wolowitz. Vote No, trained by William E. Morey, is known for his fourth-place finish in a competitive HAW allowance race and will be looking to make a splash at Kentucky Downs. Please Advise, trained by George Weaver, finished fourth in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2), showing promise for this contest.

Howard Wolowitz, trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo, is another entrant to keep an eye on. His fourth-place finish in the Mahony Stakes indicates he can step up, especially if the pace favors his running style. Apollo Ten, a stablemate of Howard Wolowitz, has also proven his stakes-winning capability, capturing the My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park earlier this year.

Longshots and European Influence

In addition to the favorites, bettors may want to keep an eye on horses like Mansa Musa, who has shown consistency in several starts but is still looking for his first stakes win. His strong second-place finish in the Quick Call Stakes (G3) earned him improved horse racing odds. 

From the also-eligible list, Save the Trees, Barksdale, Where Ya At Vince, and How’s Ur Attitude await an opportunity to compete. Barksdale recently finished eighth in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, while Where Ya At Vince and How’s Ur Attitude bring competitive records from allowance races.