Shore Runner Earns Convincing Win in Troy
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Photo:
Susie Raisher/NYRA
Brad Grady's Shore Runner made it four in a row on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course and earned his second straight stakes victory with another convincing win in the $100,000 Troy.
Shore Runner, claimed by Grady and trainer Joe Sharp for $62,500 on June 10 at Belmont Park, quickly established himself as a top turf sprinter, romping to a 3 ¼-length win in an optional claimer on July 3 at Belmont Park in his first start for his new connections. The 5-year-old gelding then cemented his place among the division's elite with a gritty triumph in the Lucky Coin on July 27 at the Spa.
The son of More Than Ready had a cleaner trip in the Troy, but still had to overcome adversity as a tepid pace materialized in front of him. Sitting fourth in the early going behind Something Extra, who led the field through soft splits of 22.96 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.91 for the half, Shore Runner was behind a wall of horses at the top of the stretch, but jockey Kendrick Carmouche coolly angled him into the clear and the late-running bay did the rest, coasting by Summation Time to prevail by a half-length.
"He got a great trip; Kendrick did a good job," said Sharp. "The pace was pretty slow and the guys tried to make it as hard on him as they could. Rightfully so, he was the horse to beat. I had a lot of confidence in the horse, a lot of confidence in the jockey, and they combined to get the outcome. I'm just grateful to have a nice horse like that and good owners. He's one of those horses when they get good they get confident. He just continues to just grow and blossom. I just try not to get in his way. It's been a lot of fun."
Shore Runner, who became the first horse to win two stakes at the meet, completed 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.18 and increased his career earnings to $362,340. He returned $4.80 on a $2 win wager.
Summation Time, who squirted away from the pack in mid-stretch, finished 1 ¾ lengths clear of Summer Breezing in third. Something Extra and Spring to the Sky completed the order of finish.
Bigger assignments could be in Shore Runner's future, according to Sharp, possibly culminating in a start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
"We're still unsure what our next step will be from here," he said. "We're looking at a race next at Kentucky Downs as a possibility, but we'll see how he comes out of it and might just freshen him until the Breeders' Cup."
Source: NYRA Communications (Sean Morris)
Source: NYRA Communications (Sean Morris)
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