Freud’s Franny Freud & General Maximus Sweep NYSS

by Sarah Mace

At Belmont on Sunday Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes-winner Fanny Freud and up-and-coming General Maximus turned the first round of the New York Stallion Stakes Series for progeny of New York sires into a sweep for Freud, who stands for Sequel Stallions at Keane Stud. It was also a sweep for trainer John Terranova.

For her start in the $100,000 NYSS Park Avenue Division for three-year-old fillies, Franny Freud was returning to her native New York and to a natural dirt racing surface. In January she finished a close second in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita and, on April 7^th,  wired the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, both at a distance of seven furlongs. Going off in the 6 ½ furlong Park Avenue as overwhelming favorite (.25-to-1), the filly broke well from the fifth post position under Garret Gomez and prompted the early pace-setter So N So (also sired by Freud) though a 22.55 first quarter. Franny Freud then took command just before the half-mile marker and drew off effortlessly in the stretch to cross the wire 7 ¾ lengths ahead of the field. So N So retained the place and – to make the race a clean sweep for the progeny of Freud – Freud’s Notebook came on to finish third by only a nose. After a half that went in 45.43, and six furlongs in 1:09.59, Franny Freud powered down to finish in 1:16.15.

Winning trainer John Terranova said, “She’s gotten better and better as she’s grown and matured and who knows how good she could be?  She was really impressive in the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland and we wanted to see how she would come back to the dirt here.” As to the future, Terranova said that the Grade 1 Prioress on July 4^th could be an option. Jockey Garrett Gomez, who has now ridden her three times, was impressed with her willingness to rate in the race: “She’s not very big, but she’s full of heart – little, but mighty.  She became a little aggressive with me a couple of times right before the half. I tried to get her backed off just a little bit, and she listened to me.” Franny Freud, who is Freud’s leading earner in 2010 ($180,000), and his second-leading earner lifetime ($476,029), improved her record to 6-2-0 from nine starts. The only time she has finished out of the exacta was her only prior start at Belmont, the Grade 1 Frizette. Out of Frankly Fran (by D’Accord),  Franny Freud was bred by Anthony Grey and is owned by a partnership of Paul P. Pompa, Jr., Winter Park Partners, and Stephen Yarbrough. She was foaled at Becky Thomas’s Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson.

In the next race on the card, the $100,000 NYSS Times Square Division for three-year-old males (also run at 6 ½ furlongs), General Maximus, owned by Michael Imperio and Elizabeth Loftus was making his stakes debut and fourth lifetime start. The colt had been sufficiently impressive in his first three races also to go off as the post-time favorite (.80-to-1). He won his debut last July in state-bred company at Belmont earning a gaudy Beyer Speed Figure of 93 and virtually duplicated that performance in first-level open allowance race at Gulfstream Park in January. Last time out he finished fourth in a second level allowance at Gulfstream behind the likes of Kentucky Derby starter Homeboykris and Derby aspirant Radiohead. He did not disappoint on Sunday, wiring the field of eight.

Having begun his career in Joseph Imperio’s barn, General Maximus was making his first start for John Terranova, but with Javier Castellano aboard for the third time. The pair broke alertly from post position six and, after clearing Zealous Boy to the inside, angled over to the rail. Cajun Jet (A. P Jet) came on to press the pace at his flank through a first half that went in brisk fractions of 22.32 and 45.24. When Cajun Jet dropped back coming out of the turn, Make Note (Read the Footnotes) advanced as if to challenge, but by this time General Maximus was opening up at will. Even though Make Note continued to close, the Freud colt crossed the wire with a 3 ¼ length advantage. Game Token (Gold Token) finished third. The final time for the race was 1:16.49.

Jockey Javier Castellano felt the race set up perfectly for his mount. “He’s a speed horse who likes to be in front, so he enjoyed the trip.” Terranova, for his part, seems delighted with his new charge. “He’s just a really talented colt and he looks like the real deal. From here we’ll get to know him a little bit better, and see how he comes back off this.”

With the victory, General Maximus improved his record to 3-0-0 in four starts and more than doubled his lifetime earnings to a total of $110,200. Imperio said he would donate $10,000 of the colt’s share of the purse to Anna House, Belmont Park’s day care center for the children of backstretch workers. General Maximus is one of two foals to race and the single winner for his unraced dam, Modern Toughness (Good and Tough), purchased by Joe Imperio at the 2006 New York Breeders’ Sales Company Fall Mixed Sale for $2,000. He was bred by Jill and Dominique Imperio.

(Quotes Courtesy of NYRA Communications)

Source URL: http://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2010/05/03/franny-freud-general-maximus-sweep-nyss/

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