Thin White Duke rallies to beat Dancing Buck by a nose in the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga Sept. 2, 2022. (Susie Raisher)
Saratoga Race Course Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Philip A. Gleaves, Steven Crist, Ken deRegt, and Bryan Hilliards’ New York-bred Thin White Duke looks to make the grade and launch an upset in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses.
Trained by David Donk, Thin White Duke has found a home sprinting on the grass, where he won at the stakes level in the $150,000 Lucky Coin last September at Saratoga. Prior to that victory, the then 4-year-old hit the board versus Grade 3 company in last year’s edition of the Troy. Thin White Duke came with a powerful kick in late stretch, but the elite turf sprinter Golden Pal had just enough of a jump on him to win by a neck.
Donk said Thin White Duke’s affinity for Spa turf warrants taking another shot in Saturday’s test when facing the reigning Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint-winner Caravel.
“It’s a [deciding] factor that he likes this turf course. Last year, the first time he ran a five and half in Saratoga was an allowance race. He ran really well. Then we knew were taking a shot running against Golden Pal, not thinking we could beat him,” said Donk. “We knew he liked the course, so when they are doing well, you shouldn’t be afraid to run them.”
Thin White Duke is the only entry in the eight-horse field to have run at Saratoga so far this summer. He ran fifth in a five-and-a-half-furlong allowance on July 26.
“Last week was a really good effort by everybody in there, he finished up, but they were really running. It was a fast race,” Donk said. “He came out of it really well and we know that he loves this turf and a five and a half, so we aren’t afraid to run him back. I don’t know if anyone is beating Caravel. She’s a legitimate heavy favorite, but it is still $300,000.”
Thin White Duke faced Caravel in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 10 at Belmont Park, finishing tenth, as the mare went gate-to-wire to beat the boys for a third consecutive time.
The Dominus gelding found himself in the ambitious Jaipur spot after a strong fourth despite a wide trip in the Elusive Quality in May at Belmont. His 5-year-old campaign began with an off-the-board effort in an allowance in April at Aqueduct, which earned a respectable Beyer Speed Figure of 88.
“I’m a realist. I don’t know if he catches Caravel,” Donk said, regarding the 20-1 morning line on Thin White Duke. “But I’d sure love to see him make a run at her.”
Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who piloted Thin White Duke to victory in last year’s Lucky Coin, will be in the irons from post 1.
