Sam Houston: Triumph and Song switches to turf for Bucharest

Triumph and Song will be making his turf debut at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night, when he attempts to win his third straight race in the $50,000 Bucharest. The five-furlong grass race is restricted to 4-year-olds and up bred in Texas.

Triumph and Song has won his division’s two most important dirt sprints, the Premiere at Lone Star Park last April and the Spirit of Texas at Sam Houston in his most recent start Jan. 18. The move to turf Saturday enables him to remain in the Texas-bred ranks and also could give him a new outlet for his talent if he takes to the surface.

“We have no idea how he’ll perform on the turf, but a $50,000 spot for Texas-breds, we’ve got to take it and find out,” said Karl Broberg, who trains Triumph and Song for H&H Ranch. “Hopefully, he’ll have enough speed where it won’t matter.”

Triumph and Song, who will break from the rail, displayed his stunning turn of foot when he led the Spirit of Texas field through a half-mile in 44.60 seconds and kept going to win the six-furlong race in 1:10.06. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 103. In light of the performance, Broberg said he would not mind if the Bucharest ended up being moved to the main track Saturday.

“I’m praying for rain to somehow hit Houston this weekend,” he said.

If the Bucharest goes on turf as scheduled, Triumph and Song gets pedigree support for the surface switch. His sire, My Golden Song, is getting 23 percent winners from his first-time turf starters and 18 percent winners overall on the grass.

Triumph and Song is to be ridden by Junior Chacaltana.

Others set to start in the eight-horse Bucharest include Solar Charge and Wagson, who finished a respective second and third to Triumph and Song in the Spirit of Texas.