Troubleshooting solves Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs

For more than four decades, trainer Greg Foley has been a stalwart on the Kentucky racing circuit, racking up 1,569 victories and counting while crafting an ultra-consistent career in a sport known for its wild peaks and valleys.

When Donamire Farm’s homebred Troubleshooting surged to the outside to best Golden Afternoon in the $2 million Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs, he gave Foley a first Grade 1 victory in a career that began in 1981.

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“It’s been a long time trying to get a Grade 1. It feels good,” said Foley, a second-generation horseman who had 10 prior graded-stakes wins.  “We’ve won Grade 2s, Grade 3s, all that, but that is the first. Anyway, got that done.”

The 6 1/2-furlong Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-olds was the first race designated as a Grade 1 at Kentucky Downs with its first such running Sept. 7, 2024.

In his first try against graded-stakes company, Troubleshooting got the spoils by showcasing a level of grit that is standard fare around his barn.

After beginning his career with three losses on the dirt, the son of Not This Time broke his maiden when he made his seasonal bow at Keeneland in April in his first try sprinting on the lawn. Since switching to the turf, the dark bay colt had finished in the top two in four of his previous five starts including a victory in the Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park on July 4.

“When you have a very good horse, you can be pretty confident,” Foley said. “He fit for sure. It was just if you can get in there and get lucky. For $2 million you know it’s going to be the best there is around right now, a couple of horses that came from Saratoga and that. But this horse has been running against good horses, too. Ellis isn’t any picnic anymore.”

Sent off at 5-1 odds in the field of 12, Troubleshooting got away well out of post position 2 under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. He had to take up slightly and settled in mid-pack on an inside path as Mi Bago led Out on Bail through the opening quarter in a reported 22.00 seconds. With three-eighths of a mile to go, Gaffalione moved his partner toward a clear path, running past Warheart to his inside. Troubleshooting took at Out On Bail, who had moved to the lead as the half-mile went in a posted 44.17 seconds.

"The horse broke alertly. There was traffic going into the first turn, and I had to take a pretty good hold,” Gaffalione said. “He got himself set up pretty well and was traveling like a good horse. He kept firing and finished up nicely.”

With the pack moving in on a weakening Out On Bail, graded-stakes winner Governor Sam tried to make a bid along the rail. He soon was overtaken by Troubleshooting and Golden Afternoon hooking up outside for a battle in late stretch. Golden Afternoon briefly stuck a head in front in the late stages, but Foley’s protégé would not be denied. He got up to prevail by a half-length with a final time said to have been 1:14.33. The new timing system at Kentucky Downs has been subject to frequent corrections.

“Inside the eighth pole you knew you were going to be right there,” Foley said. “I watched it with all the family over there. We got to riding him a little bit the last eighth of a mile.”

Golden Afternoon held for place honors with Governor Sam third and Antisocial fourth. Troubleshooting paid $13.84 to win.

With the victory Troubleshooting improved his career record to three wins from nine starts. In addition to providing Foley with a milestone moment, the colt also continued a massive hot streak for his sire Not This Time, who stood the 2025 season for $175,000 at Taylor Made Farm.

“We bred the mare to Not This Time back when he was just getting started out, and he was having a lot of nice 2-year-olds,” said Mike Ball, son of Donamire Farm owner Mira Ball. “We were lucky enough to get in on the ground floor with this guy. We were very fortunate.”

A next race remains to be determined for Troubleshooting.

“I have to talk to Greg, coming off this race. I don’t know (about the next race). We might want to stretch him out a little bit. I don’t know if we want to go back to sprints. There’s not a lot out there after this for sprints, but that will be up to Greg.”