Howard Wolowitz prevailed by one length over Yellow Card in the $1,847,100 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) Sept. 7, winning the first and only grade 1 event in Kentucky Down's 34-year history.
While the Franklin-Simpson is not an official race in Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Kentucky Downs management has pledged to finance the fees for the race's winner should they contest in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 2 at Del Mar in honor of hosting their first grade 1.
WATCH: D'Angelo Gets First Grade 1 Win With Howard Wolowitz
According to D'Angelo, a trip to Southern California is all part of the plan for Howard Wolowitz.
"I feel he's a Breeders' Cup horse," D'Angelo said with a smile.
Although Howard Wolowitz was lightly raced with only a maiden win to his credit, D'Angelo expressed confidence in the fast-improving son of Munnings . The Franklin-Simpson would be the first grade 1 win for the young Venezuelan trainer.
"It's my first grade 1 but I was very confident in this horse. He's hard to train. He has his own personality, probably gets after his (namesake)," D'Angelo said. Howard Wolowitz, played by actor Simon Helberg, is one of four quirky scientists on the popular CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Howard Wolowitz is campaigned by owner Al Gold's Gold Square. Gold won a series of grade 1 races in 2022 with Cyberknife . The son of Munnings was picked up for Gold for $240,000 as a short yearling out of the 2022 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale by bloodstock agent Joe Hardoon.
Exiting a troubled fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, D'Angelo felt Kentucky Downs was going to be "perfect for (Howard Wolowitz) with the long stretch."
Howard Wolowitz needed every bit of Kentucky Downs' stretch in the uphill drive to the wire. Tucked off the first flight early under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., the colt raced comfortably outside of horses as the full field of 12 charged through sizzling early splits of :21.88 and :44.39.
Joe Shiesty took command around the final turn but was quickly overtaken by a cavalry charge led by the fearless Howard Wolowitz. Streaking by the six-furlong marker in 1:07.86, the blistering pace ensued, with Howard Wolowitz repelling a late bid from Yellow Card en route to a near-track record 1:14.20. The final time was only .01 seconds off the track mark Ag Bullet set just eight days earlier in winning the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T).
There were a few anxious moments following the Franklin-Simpson when John Velasquez, rider of Yellow Card, claimed foul against the winner, alleging interference in deep stretch. The winner appeared to bump the runner-up, though the contact was deemed insufficient for disqualification by the stewards and there was no change to the final finish.
"I was a little worried, but I didn't see nothing live," D'Angelo said. "When I don't see something, I am usually right. This is Kentucky Downs. You have ups and downs out there; you don't know for sure."
Mansa Musa, shipping in from the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott, closed from ninth to grab third, three-quarters of a length behind runner-up Yellow Card. Evade was fourth in his stateside debut.
Sent to post as the tentative 5-2 favorite, Howard Wolowitz returned $8.12 for a $2 win ticket.
Bred in Kentucky by Martha Buckner and Matthew Ernst, Howard Wolowitz banked a $1,176,600 payday for his Franklin-Simpson victory; $1 million of the purse was boosted by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
The first winner produced by his dam, the Uncle Mo mare Forget Me Not, Howard Wolowitz provided a timely update for a yearling in the upcoming Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His half brother by Instagrand is cataloged as Hip 2024 in the Clarkland Farm consignment. Howard Wolowitz became the second graded stakes winner of the year for Ashford Stud stallion Munnings following Jaxon Traveler. A son of Speightstown, Munnings stood the 2024 breeding season for a fee of $75,000.
