The Lir Jet Among Dozen Stakes Winners Comprising Franklin-Simpson Field

FRANKLIN, KY – With The Lir Jet, Qatar Racing will try to win Saturday’s $600,000 Franklin-Simpson for the third straight year, and the first time with the stakes a Grade 2.

Qatar Racing won last year’s stakes with Guildsman, who like The Lir Jet is trained by Brendan Walsh, and in 2019 with the Doug O’Neill-trained Legends of War.

The Lir Jet won Royal Ascot’s Norfolk (G2) as a 2-year-old but is winless since. He makes his debut both in the United States and as a gelding.

Sharing high-weight of 124 pounds with The Lir Jet is the Eddie Kenneally-trained Point Me By, winner of Arlington Park’s Bruce D. Stakes (G1) (formerly the Secretariat).

The field of 12 3-year-old stakes winners, with 3 others on the also-eligible list, includes the filly Miss Amulet, a Group 2 winner in England and a close second in a Group 1; Woodbine’s Marine (G3) winner Easy Time; the Wesley Ward duo of Churchill Downs’ War Chant winner Next and Ellis Park’s Dade Park Dash victor Into the Sunrise; and American Derby winner Tango Tango Tango.

Other stakes winners are Bodenheimer, King of Miami, Omaha City, and County Final. Last year’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint runner-up Fauci, also trained by Ward, needs a scratch to get in the field.