Wilburnmoney rallies for upset victory in Franklin Square

by Brian Bohl

Frank Bellavia and Bob Petersons Stables' Wilburnmoney, who went off at 20-1, overtook Bluesgrass Flag in midstretch to win her first stakes race in the third running of the $100,000 Franklin Square for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Trained by Gary Gullo, Wilburnmoney, who broke well from the outside, completed the upset and won for the first time on the inner dirt track and first time overall sine her debut on June 16 at Belmont Park, completing six furlongs in 1:11.88.

Bluegrass Flag set the early fractions, completing a quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and a half-mile in 44.46. Under a confident ride from jockey Angel Arroyo, Wilburnmoney rallied from the outside off the turn and outkicked Bluegrass Flag in deep stretch to win by two lengths.

"She broke great," Arroyo said. "I got the best trip. In the final stretch at the eighth-pole l knew I had horse and she rallied all the way to the finish. This filly today ran really good. She wanted to run today and it was really easy."

Wilburnmoney paid $42.80 on a $2 win bet, upping her career earnings to $129,034. She improved to 2-1-1 in six career starts, with both wins coming on fast tracks.

"I thought she ran great," Gullo. "She was coming into the race very good. She's had a few issues with heat and the second time and third time she ran, it was very hot out and she didn't run that well but today she ran good. 

"I've always liked this filly," he added. "I just told him [Arroyo] to get her on the bit a little bit early on and just use [his] own judgment. He had a good post position with her."

Bluegrass Flag, for trainer Tom Morley, was the runner-up in her stakes debut. Luna Rising finished third in her first stakes action for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. 

Overnegotiate, Toni Tools, Maple Mo, Bertranda, Passporttovictory, Out of Trouble and Treatherlikestar completed the order of finish. 

With the Franklin Square carded as the final leg of Sunday's Pick 6, Wilburnmoney's victory triggered a $42,051 carryover into Monday's special President's Day card, also featuring the $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield as Race 8. The Pick 6 will get underway in Race 4, with a post time of 2:20 p.m. ET. Monday's first post is 12:50.