$125,000 Franklin Square Stakes Draws Field of Ten

Golden Gem has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 7-2 for trainer Richard Violette, Jr. A chestnut daughter of Wildcat Heir bred and owned by My Meadowview Farm, she broke her maiden at first asking over a field of eleven state-bred rivals in November. She has been training steadily and has had consecutive bullet workouts in preparation for her sophomore debut. Manuel Franco will be back aboard and they will break from post position seven.

Consistent Hard to Stay Notgo looms as a threat

Second choice at 4-1 on the morning line is Hard to Stay Notgo for trainer James Jerkens. A dark bay daughter of More Than Ready, she broke her maiden in her debut at Saratoga and went on to finish second and third in both starts against state-bred stakes competition. She has been on the shelf since September but has clocked a recent bullet workout in training at Belmont Park. Angel Arroyo will be aboard and they will break from post eight.

Sonora making stakes debut after maiden win

Also in the field at morning line odds of 9-2 is Sonora for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Purchased for $77,000 as a yearling, the bay daughter of Discreetly Mine was second in her career debut by a head to My Super Nova who she faces again here. She came back to break her maiden as the favorite in her next start in November and will take on stakes company for the first time. Junior Alvarado, aboard for her debut, will be back in the irons from post two.