The Franklin – Grade II returns to Keeneland on Sunday, October 11, 2026, bringing six fillies and mares aged three and older together for a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint and a purse of $400.000. The race has developed a distinguished history, with recent winners including Confident Elegance for Maxmillion Farm in 2025, Miss Fury for Mb Stables in 2024 and Antares for Smokey Stover in 2023. Both Mb Stables and Maxmillion Farm have previously won this event, and each returns with a contender. Jockey Bridgmohan S X, who has five Franklin victories between 2008 and 2015, also returns aboard Frozen Mist. This year’s field is particularly interesting because Shine To Class, Stellar Strength and Frozen Mist have repeatedly competed against one another in major turf sprints, while the improving three-year-old Red Bone brings a different dimension to the contest.

The Field

1. Red Bone — Angelos Stable — Rodriguez Jam

Projected Odds: 7-1

Red Bone has developed into a competitive three-year-old turf sprinter, winning five of her 12 lifetime starts and earning $522.610. Her recent performances suggest she is capable of competing against older graded-stakes opposition. She captured the 5 1/2-furlong Galway at Saratoga on August 15 after racing on the lead throughout, then finished third in the Grade II Music City at Kentucky Downs on September 5 after taking command at the third call.

That Music City performance is particularly relevant because she remained competitive against a large field of 14 runners at 6 1/2 furlongs. Cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs returns her to the distance of her Galway victory. She has demonstrated consistent early speed, having raced first or second at the opening call in each of her last three starts.

Red Bone has a legitimate winning chance, particularly if she can establish a favorable early position without becoming involved in an extended pace contest. Her recent graded-stakes form makes her a credible alternative to the more accomplished older mares.

2. Shine To Class — Our Athletes — Velazquez J R

Projected Odds: 5-2

Shine To Class enters as the most accomplished recent Grade I winner in the field. The four-year-old has won eight of 15 lifetime starts, including seven victories on turf, and has accumulated earnings of $2,031.770.

Her latest appearance produced a victory in the Grade I Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint on August 29. Racing sixth at the opening call, she advanced to fourth, then second, before securing the victory. That performance demonstrated her ability to settle behind the leaders and produce a sustained advance.

Earlier in the season, she finished second by a head in the Grade II Caress at Saratoga over today’s 5 1/2-furlong distance. She also finished third in the Grade II Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland in April and third in the Grade II Sidney at Churchill Downs in May.

Her familiarity with Keeneland is an important advantage, as is her demonstrated ability to compete successfully against several of today’s opponents. She finished ahead of Stellar Strength and Frozen Mist in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint and ahead of both again in the Caress.

Shine To Class has the strongest overall winning chance. Her current Grade I form, consistency and ability to race effectively behind the early pace make her the projected favorite.

3. Stellar Strength — Mb Stables — Santana R Jr

Projected Odds: 4-1

Stellar Strength brings an extensive record of success into the Franklin, having won 13 of 34 lifetime starts with earnings of $2,284.070. The six-year-old has spent much of her career competing in major turf sprints and remains capable of producing a winning performance against graded-stakes opposition.

Her most important recent victory came in the Grade II Intercontinental at Saratoga on June 4, where she led throughout and held on to win by a nose. Earlier in the season, she finished second by a neck in the Grade II Sidney at Churchill Downs, again racing prominently throughout.

Her latest appearance was a fourth-place finish in the Grade I Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint, where she raced fifth, sixth and fifth before finishing fourth. That result was respectable but left her behind Shine To Class.

Stellar Strength also has relevant Keeneland experience, having finished fifth in the Grade II Giant’s Causeway in April. Although that result was less productive, she has demonstrated that 5 1/2 furlongs suits her abilities.

Mb Stables previously won the Franklin with City Life in 2018 and Miss Fury in 2024, providing an additional connection to this event.

Stellar Strength has a strong winning chance if she reproduces her Intercontinental or Sidney performances. Her principal challenge will be reversing recent results against Shine To Class while managing the early pace.

4. Beach Body — TwinTowersRacing — Hernandez R M

Projected Odds: 12-1

Beach Body enters after winning a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance at Monmouth Park on August 29. In that race, she advanced from third to second, took command at the third call and held on for the victory. It was her second win from five starts in 2026.

The five-year-old has six lifetime victories and earnings of $438.370, with the majority of her racing experience coming in route races. Her recent Monmouth victory demonstrates that she can also be effective at today’s shorter distance.

Her earlier 2026 performances present a mixed picture. She finished ninth in the Grade II Caress at Saratoga, fifth in a one-mile Woodbine allowance and sixth in the Grade I Wiley at Keeneland. She also captured the Grade III Fox over a mile on soft turf at Gulfstream Park in February.

The transition back to sprinting was clearly productive in her latest start, but the Franklin represents a considerable class increase from that allowance victory.

Beach Body has an outside winning chance. She would need to improve upon her previous Grade II sprint performance, although her recent victory suggests she enters in better form than that result alone would indicate.

5. Spotted Cow — Bigchief Stables — Ortiz J L

Projected Odds: 10-1

Spotted Cow is a four-year-old with four victories from 11 lifetime starts and earnings of $135.650. Although she lacks the graded-stakes accomplishments of the leading contenders, her recent performances indicate that she is developing into a useful turf sprinter.

She finished third in the Smart N Fancy at Saratoga on August 14, advancing from fifth at the third call to finish third. Before that, she won the Chicken Fried at Lone Star Park on June 27, also making her move from behind the early leaders.

Her running lines consistently show a preference for settling several positions behind the early pace before improving later. That pattern could be useful in a field containing several runners capable of establishing or contesting the lead.

One consideration is that her recent success has largely come at five furlongs. The additional half-furlong should not automatically be considered a disadvantage, particularly after her third at Saratoga over 5 1/2 furlongs, but she has not yet demonstrated that she can defeat established Grade II or Grade I runners.

Spotted Cow has a credible longshot chance if the early leaders produce a demanding pace. Her consistency and late-running tendencies make her an interesting candidate to outperform her projected odds.

6. Frozen Mist — Maxmillion Farm — Bridgmohan S X

Projected Odds: 3-1

Frozen Mist brings an impressive combination of graded-stakes success, Keeneland experience and proven ability at today’s distance. The five-year-old has won nine of 24 lifetime starts and earned $2,280.690, including eight turf victories.

Her strongest credentials come from consecutive Grade II victories earlier this season. She captured the Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland on April 12 after taking command at the second call, then followed with another Grade II victory in the Sidney at Churchill Downs on May 1, again racing prominently.

Those two victories establish her as one of the most dangerous runners in this field, particularly because the Giant’s Causeway was contested over the same Keeneland turf course and distance as the Franklin.

Her subsequent performances have been less convincing. She finished sixth in the Intercontinental, third in the Caress, third in the ungraded Hummingbird and eighth in the Grade I Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint.

Nevertheless, she has continued to train well, including a six-furlong turf workout at Keeneland on October 4 that ranked first among six recorded works.

Maxmillion Farm won the Franklin in 2022 with Hollywood Babe and again in 2025 with Confident Elegance. Bridgmohan S X also brings an exceptional history in the event, having ridden five Franklin winners.

Frozen Mist has a very strong winning chance, especially if she returns to the form that produced her two spring Grade II victories. Her proven success over this exact course and distance makes her the most serious threat to Shine To Class.

Pace Structure & Race Outlook

The Franklin appears likely to feature a competitive early pace, with several runners capable of establishing or maintaining forward positions.

Red Bone has shown consistent early speed, racing first or second at the opening call in each of her last three starts. She is a logical candidate to be among the early leaders.

Frozen Mist has also demonstrated the ability to control the pace. Both of her Grade II victories this season came after she established the lead by the second call and maintained that position through the finish.

Stellar Strength is another potential pace participant. She led throughout her Intercontinental victory and raced second through the opening three calls when finishing runner-up in the Sidney.

With those three runners possessing demonstrated early speed, the opening stages could be contested.

That scenario may favor Shine To Class, whose recent Grade I victory came after settling sixth early and advancing steadily through the field. She does not require the lead and has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to finish effectively from a stalking position.

Spotted Cow could also benefit from an honest pace. Her recent victories and competitive finishes have generally come after she settled behind the early leaders and improved during the latter stages.

Beach Body has shown tactical versatility, including her latest allowance victory in which she advanced from third to take command.

The central question is whether Frozen Mist or Stellar Strength can reproduce their strongest early-season performances while facing potential pressure from Red Bone. If the leaders contest the pace, Shine To Class appears particularly well positioned to capitalize.

Shine To Class receives the selection because she combines the strongest recent Grade I result with proven effectiveness at 5 1/2 furlongs and a running style that does not depend upon controlling the early lead.

Frozen Mist is the primary danger because of her two Grade II victories earlier this season, including one over the Keeneland course. Stellar Strength is another serious contender, while Red Bone offers an interesting opportunity at a higher projected price.

Projected Order

1. Shine To Class — 5-2
2. Frozen Mist — 3-1
3. Stellar Strength — 4-1
4. Red Bone — 7-1

Projected Winner: Shine To Class — 5-2

Main Danger: Frozen Mist — 3-1

Best Value: Red Bone — 7-1

Live Longshot: Spotted Cow — 10-1

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES