Fast Boat Speeds to Troy Victory Over Carotari
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Fast Boat wins Troy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Brad Grady's Fast Boat is indeed just that—fast.
The turf sprinter put on another eye-catching, late-running display Aug. 6 in the $200,00 Troy Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Ireland (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course, flying late to catch longshot Carotari with 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.24. The Troy marked his third stakes victory of 2021 following earlier triumphs in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by Sysco (G2T) at Churchill Downs and the Pulse Power Turf Sprint Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.
As in those two races, he unleashed a surge over the second half of the race to prevail. Sixth of nine early in the Troy, as Caratori shot to the lead with fractions of :21.74 and :44.15 over the firm course, the Joe Sharp-trained Fast Boat found another gear late, picking off opponents under Tyler Gaffalione and scoring by a half-length.
"During the stretch run I was jumping off the ground. I got a little taller inside the eighth pole," Sharp said.
Gaffalione rode the winner of the Troy for the third straight year.
"I just let him do his thing. I didn't want to get in his way and when I tipped him out he really finished his job," the jockey said.
Caratori hung on for second, a length in front of Gear Jockey in third. The favorites, 5-2 Imprimis and 2-1 Bound for Nowhere , ran fourth and fifth, respectively.
Casa Creed , who beat Fast Boat and others over a wet turf course in the Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 5, was a race-day scratch along with two other runners. Casa Creed is expected to race in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) going a mile at Saratoga Aug. 14, according to the track's racing office.
Claimed by trainer Joe Sharp for Grady for $40,000 in October 2018 at Belmont, Fast Boat won $193,105 in 2019 and $90,504 in 2020 before having his best season in 2021. This year he has won three of five starts and $324,100.
"We won this race with a horse called Shore Runner years ago (2015) for the same connections," Sharp recalled. "We lost Shore Runner in a racing accident in the race before the Breeders' Cup (in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select, G3) at Keeneland and it was a very emotional time for all of us. To come back and win this race this year for the same owner and with a different horse who is equally important to us is extra special."
Bred in Kentucky by R. S. Evans, Fast Boat was the first foal produced from the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Yellow Boat . She has since produced three winners from four starters and has an unraced 2-year-old Quality Road colt named Glider and an unnamed yearling colt by Tonalist .
Fast Boat ($23.80) raced initially for his breeder before being claimed by his current connections.
Video: Saratoga Derby Invitational S. (G1T)
Art Collector wins the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga
A race before the Troy on Friday, Bruce Lunsford's homebred Art Collector picked up his first victory since last summer when he captured the $120,000 Alydar Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Night Ops . Math Wizard was third.
Art Collector , a son of Bernardini who won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby last year for previous trainer Tommy Drury, joined the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott this summer. The 4-year-old raced 1 1/8 miles under Luis Saez on a fast track in 1:48.20, paying $5.60.