Change of Control Wins Buffalo Trace Franklin County

College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End awards $40,000 in scholarships

Perry Harrison’s Change of Control was first out of the gate and first to the finish line in posting a 1½-length victory over 62-1 longshot Ambassador Luna in the 25^th running of the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) for fillies and mares on a rainy Friday afternoon.

Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Colby Hernandez, Change of Control covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course labeled yielding in 1:05.89.

With the victory, Change of Control became the fourth horse to win the Giant’s Causeway (L) during Keeneland’s Spring Meet and come back in the Fall Meet to win the Buffalo Trace Franklin County. The others were Dyna Da Wyna (2004), Confessional (2001) and Ayrial Delight (1999).

It is the second Keeneland stakes victory for Lovell and Hernandez, both coming with Change of Control.

Ambassador Luna quickly overtook Change of Control after the start and led the field of 10 through a first quarter-mile in :22.66 as Change of Control raced fourth while in the clear.

In the stretch, Ambassador Luna shook off bids from In Good Spirits and Yes It’s Ginger but could not hold off the charge of Change of Control, who assumed control just before the sixteenth pole.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Change of Control is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Fed Biz out of the Quiet American mare America’s Blossom.

With Friday’s $90,000 winner’s share, Change of Control increased her earnings to $656,775 with a record of 30-8-6-6. It was her second graded stakes victory and fourth stakes triumph overall.

Change of Control returned $14.60, $7.60 and $4.20. Ambassador Luna, ridden by James Graham, returned $42.40 and $12.80 while finishing a neck in front of favored Campanelle (IRE), who rallied for third and paid $3 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 4¼ lengths back to In Good Spirits with Lagertha (CHI), Yes It’s Ginger, Catch a Bid, Lead Guitar, Violenza and She’s So Special following in order.

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Today was College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End. A total of $40,000 in college scholarships were available to full-time college students who participated either online or in person. The winners of two $10,000 scholarships from Lane’s End were Kyle Hampton from the University of Louisville and Erica McKind from Kentucky State University.

“I started coming to the races (this past spring) and found out I had a real passion for horse racing,” Hampton, a 19-year-old sophomore, said. “So I changed my major to equine business at the University of Louisville. I would love to work in the equine industry.”

“I’m so happy,” said McKind, a 20-year-old junior. “This means so much to me. I study criminal justice, so my goal is to finish school at Kentucky State and then start as a local cop and work my way up to chief of police.” 

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Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card is the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana that goes as the eighth race with a 4:44 p.m. post time. 

The Pick 6 carryover is $51,296.85.