There was an unexpected drama during the 19th run of the $300,000 Troy Stake (G3T) at Racecourse Saratoga August 5.
None of the 26,834 people who stayed at the Spa thought that Golden Pal the best male sprinter in the country, will have a match of wits in his special 5 1/2 long distance race.
GOLDEN PAL by nose in Troy Stakes (G3) with @iradortiz up! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/JXGpLR5fM2
– NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 5, 2022
That’s what happened when the 4-year-old pony, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, had to fight the length of the stretch before winning over the stubborn one. . True Valor on solid Mellon grass.
“You always care,” winning coach Wesley Ward said in the winner’s circle. “But I have great confidence in this horse, (it’s) definitely the best horse I’ve ever had. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”
With victory, Golden Pal, son of Uncle Mo –Lady Shipman via Shipman , improving his record to seven wins in 10 grass starts. He’s a perfect six-six at a distance from Troy.
Golden Pal’s strong point is that he is quick, especially out of portals.
That didn’t happen in Troy, it was Golden Pal’s first start since the epic 16 in King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot June 14.
“He moved a step as soon as they opened the gate,” said Golden Pal diver Irad Ortiz Jr. speak. “When they opened the gate, he was moving at the same time and they defied me. They were in front of me, and that’s not his style. He was always in front of everyone the first couple. dancing fairy.”
So Ortiz went to Plan B.
In recent winds, the Golden Pal has been active behind the horses. When it happened in Troy, it was not something the horse had not experienced.
“I worked with him twice and it was no problem in the morning,” Ortiz said. “He’s comfortable and done well, so I’m not scared.”
Although Golden Pal has traditionally taken the lead, Ward showed no signs of panic.
“The plan is, unless he breaks super sharp, that I want him to come from behind,” Ward said. “I’m glad he showed a bit of flexibility. When you get to Breeders’ Cup (Sprint, G1), there are a lot of fast horses — 14 of them in the race — and you just want to be able to be tactical and not necessarily in the front. I think he showed that.”
Golden Pal and Irad Ortiz Jr. be led to the winner’s circle after the Troy . Bet
True Valor, owned by R. Larry Johnson and trained by Graham Motion, showed the way, generating fractions: 21.93 for the first quarter and: 44.25 for the half. Golden Pal, racing outside, is never far from the lead and Ortiz is confident he will get him. So is Ward.
Feargal Lynch, 44-year-old Maryland runner of True Value, was surprised when the beloved Golden Pal team 1-2 failed to take the lead by the time they were out of the gate. He was happy to bequeath it to True Valor, an 8-year-old son of Zodiac .
“When we kicked, I thought we were going to win it,” Lynch said. “For an 8-year-old, we’re two old men in the twilight of our careers and we’re just enjoying it.”
Golden Pal ran 5 1/2 feathers in a time of 1:00.92 and was paid $2.60. Ward said the horse will be transported back to his base at Keeneland on Sunday, where he’ll be gearing up for what’s likely to be a rough start at the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at six furlongs on October 7.
“We’re going to be talking to everyone involved with horse ownership to see which direction they want to go,” Ward said. “But for them, it was important to show what horses can do on land, too.”
Thin white duke , the longest hit on the board with a score of 30-1, behind True Valor in third place. He is followed home by Arzak , Yes and Yes , Spycraft , and Carotari .
