Walter Wlodarczyk Photo

Best of 2023: Manny Franco

by Keith McCalmont

Just four live race days remain in 2023 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit. To celebrate the season, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of racing personalities to share their reflections on the memorable year.

Jockey Manny Franco has won three NYRA circuit meet titles this year [Aqueduct winter, Aqueduct spring, Belmont at the Big A fall meet] and is closing in on a fourth as he currently holds an 11-win lead at the top of the Aqueduct fall meet standings. In addition, the 29-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, has won 233 races on the NYRA circuit this year, leading the way by 65 wins over Irad Ortiz, Jr. as he looks to secure his third year-end title following past success in 2018-19.

Franco has demonstrated quantity by riding winners in bunches - scoring here with 6-of-7 mounts on January 6 and with 5-of-7 mounts on March 10 - but has also won with quality by posting 28 stakes wins in 2023, including seven graded wins on the year led by Grade 2 scores with Higher Truth in the Sheepshead Bay at Belmont Park and with Channel Maker in the Bowling Green and Evvie Jets in the Ballston Spa at Saratoga Race Course.

Franco, who is represented by agent John Panagot, has already achieved a career-high of more than $17.3 million in purse earnings this year.

Q. You became one of just 19 riders - a list that includes 11 Hall of Famers - to post a six-win day at a NYRA track here in January. How do you maintain that level of focus from race to race?

“I prepare the same way every day. I come with a positive mind and try to make the most of my opportunities. It's been working for me.

“Here in New York, it's the toughest colony in the country and to be the leading rider it means my agent and I are doing something good. He's been working hard - me as well. It's team work. There's a lot of communication with the trainers and the owners and working hard in the mornings, that helps a lot. And trying to make the most of the opportunity when the time comes.”

Q. You have posted a record of 176-40-26-26 this year for trainer Chad Brown, winning at a 22 percent clip and a 52 percent in-the-money rate. This includes nine stakes wins for the year. What have you learned from riding regularly for such a big outfit?

“You want to do good for those barns. They have the big horses and that's what we're here for - to get a chance to ride in the big races, the big stakes and those barns, especially, can take you where you want to go.

“In some races, Chad has more than one horse and when you win for him it's special. I want to take every chance that they give me.”

Q. You posted a pair of memorable graded stakes-scores at the Spa this summer, guiding 9-year-old Channel Maker to a frontrunning 15-1 upset in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 30 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

A few weeks later, on August 24, you piloted the Mertkan Kantarmaci-trained Evvie Jets to a 29-1 upset in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa with a rail-skimming ride to score by a head over Fluffy Socks. Both Channel Maker and Evvie Jets are fan favorites on the circuit – what does it mean to win at Saratoga and to do so with such well-regarded horses?

“Channel Maker has been a big part of my career and gave me such nice wins in big stakes. I’m grateful to have had those opportunities. Evvie Jets, that filly, that was great that day. I was so happy to win a race for those guys. They've helped me a lot and it makes me happy to win a big stakes for them.

“With Evvie Jets, I know she's maybe a little better when she's on the lead, but she can win from off the pace, too. That day, there was a lot of speed in the race and I made sure to break and get my forward position and after that I had a dream trip. The rail opened up and I had the filly under me and she did the rest that day. I did everything I could to win the race for those guys and I was really pleased to get it done for them. Any race you can win at Saratoga is special.”

Q. How would you describe your riding style?

“I think it's all about the horse that you ride. I like to be in the middle of the race, off the pace a little bit. But if I have a fast horse, I know how to get it done that way, too!”

Q. You won the 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Sharing and enjoyed a tremendous run aboard Tiz the Law in 2020, taking the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and the Grade 1 Travers ahead of a runner-up effort to Authentic in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Is there a race that you dream of winning?

“I really want to win the Kentucky Derby. I was so close to winning with Tiz the Law. I have that race in my heart and I think that's the dream for all the riders. That's what we work so hard for.”

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.