Shore Runner snares fifth straight win in Troy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Shore Runner kept his winning streak alive but not without giving his connections and backers some anxious moments before running down Summation Time to register a half-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Troy Stakes at Saratoga.

Shore Runner posted his fifth straight victory, his second stakes win of the meet, and third triumph since being haltered by trainer Joe Sharp for owner Brad Grady late this spring at Belmont Park. He did so despite racing off a slow pace and getting shuffled back a bit along the inside around the turn. But once jockey Kendrick Carmouche angled Shore Runner out for clearance entering the stretch, the red-hot gelding accelerated sharply and ran down the leader in the final yards.

Summation Time joined the leaders from inside entering the stretch and stayed on well, but proved no match for the winner at the end. Summer Breezing prompted the pace of Something Extra, continued willingly with the leaders through the stretch before weakening inside the sixteenth pole. Something Extra and Spring to the Sky rounded out the order of finish.

Shore Runner, a 6-year-old son of More Than Ready, completed 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:02.18 and paid $4.80.

“It was a slow opening quarter and the guys tried to make it as hard as they could on him, and rightfully so, since he was the horse to beat,” said Sharp. “I had a lot of confidence in the horse, a lot of confidence in the jock and they combined to give us the outcome we hoped for. I’m just fortunate to have a horse like this, good owners. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Sharp said he has no definite plans for Shore Runner’s next start but acknowledged that his main goal right now is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.