8/8/2020

 9    SAR      The Troy (GIII)

        $200.000       4yo&Up          5 1/2f  Turf          123lbs

Southern Fame, my top choice in The Troy (GIII), has been sharp this year… well, hone that knife just a bit more as the Mb Stables trained gelding as he took this one by this one by a half length in a snappy time of 1:02.24 for the five and a half furlongs.  Flooded nosed out Gleaming Spirit for the second spot, with Blown Coverage another neck back in fourth.

The field of eleven speedsters loaded up on the turf course and were away in good order with Hollywood Niner on the early gas, Voodoo Chile and Steppe Cossacks giving chase, Harry Met Meghan between that pair.  Drop down to the rail for Southern Fame, Kruzin For Pink and Flooded on his flank, then Blown Coverage,  Rivalry towards his inside, Gleaming Spirit to his outside and Pip Ferro was the early trailer.

Down the backside and dashing into the far turn, they had three furlongs left to run and Hollywood Niner was caught wide and was a head in front of Voodoo Child.  Harry Met Meghan making a trio after the lead, then a length to Steppe Cossacks.  Southern Fame up the rail, Kruzin For Pink between horses, then a length to Blown Coverage, Flooded next to that one, another length to Rivalry, then Gleaming Spirit and Pip Ferro was still trailing.

Swing around the far turn and straightening out for the run to the wire, Voodoo Child and Hollywood Niner battling for the lead but drifting out wide.  The others were in full flight and moving up the inside with Southern Fame on the rail, Harry Met Megan on the outside of Kruzin For Pink, Steppe Cossacks down the center, Blown Coverage out wide then back to Flooded along the inside.  Rivalry finding some late interest as was Gleaming Spirit from the outside and Pip Ferro was last and widest of all.

Deep stretch and to the finish, this one was changing quickly as the speed was tiring and the closers were in full flight…  Southern Fame in front, nine giving chase and Pip Ferro at the rear, but as they neared the wire, it was Southern Flame going under the wire in front by a half length.  The minor spots were bang-bang-bang-bang with Floded flying home down the inside to gain the place, Gleaming Spirit out wide in third, with Blown Coverage next to that one in fourth.  Kruzin For Pink was a head back in fifth, then a neck to Rivalry in sixth.  Voodoo Child seventh, just a head in front of Steppe Cossacks in eighth, another head to Pip Ferro in ninth, Harry Met Meghan tiring to be tenth and Hollywood Niner closed this one out.

Southern Fame is a 4yo gray gelded son of Southern Style – Hollywood Danzer, by Hollywood Freak, and he was bred by his owner, Mb Stables in Cal.  This was his fourth win from fourteen starts and he now shows earnings of $338.000.  With two graded wins in his last three starts, he is a sprinter that must be watched.

$2 Mutuel Prices:
 

Track: Firm          Time: :22¹  :44⁴  :56²  1:02¹
$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 31.30           $1 Trifecta: 1 – 3 – 10 Paid 53.20
Scratched: None

Southern Fame raced mid-pack early, moved up to contend the pace into the lane, moved clear late, then all out to prevail.  Flooded lacked early speed, moved up with an inside move entering the lane, closed quickly to just miss.  Gleaming Spirit lacked any early interest, responded when asked down the lane while wide, best foot too late.  Blown Coverage outrun early, moved forward quickly at the furlong marker while five wide, good effot.  Kruzin For Pink just behind the pace while unhurried early, moved forward into the lane, out-finished late.  Rivalry well back early, some late action while no threat.   Voodoo Child pressed the early pace, took over into the far turn, nothing left for the drive.  Speppe Cossacks evenly, no threat.  Pip Ferro was outrun.  Harry Met Meghan showed some early interest, folded.  Hollywood Niner broke alertly, lead to the far turn, headed, tired.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES