Donamire Farm’s Troubleshooting Captures First Grade I Victory in Franklin-Simpson Stakes
Donamire Farm homebred Troubleshooting delivered a thrilling finish to capture Saturday’s GI Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs, giving veteran trainer Greg Foley his first Grade I victory. The 3-year-old colt by Not This Time rallied from fifth position to win the 6 1/2-furlong turf contest worth nearly $2 million.
At odds of 5-1, Troubleshooting stayed within striking distance through swift fractions of :22 and :44.17 before making his move. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione guided the colt five wide at the quarter pole, allowing him to charge down the stretch and defeat Golden Afternoon by a half-length. Governor Sam finished third.
“It’s been a long time trying to get a Grade I. It feels good,” said Foley, a second-generation horseman who had accumulated 10 prior graded stakes wins. “We’ve won Grade IIs, Grade IIIs, all that, but that is the first. Anyway, got that done.”
The victory marks a significant milestone for both Foley and sire Not This Time, who now counts Troubleshooting as his eighth Grade I winner.
Troubleshooting entered the Franklin-Simpson following a narrow second-place finish in an Ellis Park allowance on August 4. While all five of his previous grass appearances came at 5 1/2 furlongs, the colt handled the slightly longer distance with aplomb.
Foley expressed confidence in his charge despite the competitive field. “When you have a very good horse, you can be pretty confident. 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.”
“He’s just a big, handsome horse,” Foley added.
The victory pushed Troubleshooting’s career earnings to $1,395,656 with a record of three wins from nine starts.
Mike Ball, son of Donamire Farm owner Mira Ball, explained their breeding strategy: “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. We were lucky enough to get in on the ground floor with this guy. We were very fortunate.”
Not This Time continues to establish himself as a leading young sire with 28 graded/group stakes winners worldwide. Troubleshooting becomes the third Grade I winner for broodmare sire Into Mischief, joining White Abarrio and Alva Starr.
The stakes-winning Into Trouble, Troubleshooting’s dam, was a $180,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by the Ball family’s operation. She has also produced multiple stakes-placed Big Trouble, the unraced 2-year-old colt Trouble Calling, a yearling filly by Nashville, and a colt by Nashville foaled this year. She was bred back to Kantharos.
Golden Afternoon, a gelding by Goldencents, earned his first Grade I black type with a strong second-place finish, collecting $379,000 for his connections. Governor Sam, by Improbable, finished third for a $189,500 payday.
