John Henry’s clever $20.000 purchase, Theory, heads up a field of eleven three-year-olds and upward in the Grade III Troy Handicap being run for $200.000 at 5 1/2 furlongs on the SAR turf course Sunday. Purchased one race ago, the sophomore colt has already earned back his purchase price with a third in the PARX Sprint at PRX last month, and the way he came from off the pace, he is likely to benefit from the added distance here.

Estero Farms’ Flooded returned to turf last, running second just in front of Theory in the PARX Sprint. Another three-year-old, he has been away from turf since last September. After running third in the Woodstock Stakes at WO, his connections turned to graded stakes with his first graded check last out. Both horses have been burning up the morning turf courses in preparation for this race. The likely favourite for this race is Mb Stables’ Gleaming Spirit, which finished a fast-closing fourth in the Grade I Highlander Stakes at WO in June as the favourite. A winner of nine of 16 races, the four-year-old has been working his way up the stakes ladder and registered a 99 SRF in the process of running fourth last. Sharp works and consistent racing makes this lad look the favourite.

Team 7 Illusions sends out three runners in this event headed by three-year-old Snakes On A Game, which finished just behind Gleaming Spirit in the Highlander. This lad has been frequenting graded stakes races in his last three, including a win in the Grade III Hutcheson Stakes at GP on the dirt culminating a winning streak of five in a row. Trying the turf for the first time is Chili King Stables’ Vino Bambino, which has been struggling recently on the dirt contrary to his close third place Grade I finish back in April. His strong turf works have led his connections to give this race a try. Team 7 Illusions’ second runner is another three-year-old, Corroya, which won a $37.500 claimer last after running up the track in the $1,000.000 Queens Plate Stakes at WO in June. It took this gelding seven races to break his maiden, but he has won two of his last three.

Threshold’s Copper Conduit has never tried the turf for his current connections but has been in the money all ten of his races for them. His turf works mark him as a threat with these. Maxmillion Farm’s Caught Asleep has been up the track last two but won the Silks Run at GP in March. Team 7 Illusions’ final entry, Dead Ruler, has only four starts to his name but has been in the money all three of his turf starts. TwinTowersRacing sends out Hollywood Charlie, which ran second in a turf route allowance race last. Mb Stables’ second starter in here is Treasure Trove, which won the Grade III 1 3/8 mile turf Premiers at HST in October.

SAR Race 5
5 1/2 f turf for 3 yo up The Troy Handicap Purse: $200.000
Horse                                       Owner                                        Odds             SRF
Theory                                      John Henry                                4-1                97
Flooded                                    Estero Farms                             3-1                98
Gleaming Spirit                        Mb Stables                               *5-2                99
Snakes On A Game                  Team 7 Illusions                         5-1                98
Vino Bambino                          Chili King Stables                     10-1                98
Corroya                                    Team 7 Illusions                         8-1                94
Copper Conduit                       Threshold                                   8-1                94
Caught Asleep                         Maxmillion Farm                      10-1                94
Dead Ruler                               Team 7 Illusions                       12-1                93
Hollywood Charlie                   TwinTowersRacing                    15-1               91
Treasure Trove                         Mb Stables                               15-1                94

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES