Thin White Duke in career form but not suited by Lucky Coin pace

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Running a horse coming off a big performance back on short rest is generally looked upon as a no-no in this business. But don’t tell that to the connections of Thin White Duke, who earlier this meet returned one week after posting a near career best Beyer Speed Figure to finish just a neck behind reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner and division leader Golden Pal in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes.

Thin White Duke, who improved 15 Beyer points to a 99 in the Troy, has had four weeks to recuperate from that outing, a repeat of which makes him the horse to beat here Friday in the $150,000 Lucky Coin. The 5 1/2-furlong turf dash lured a field of eight, plus two main-track-only entrants, and includes Thin White Duke’s uncoupled mate Big Package.

Dave Donk, who trains both Thin White Duke and Big Package, explained his thinking about the former’s quick turnaround in the Troy.

“It was a last minute decision to run there but he was in great form, he’s run well over this course, and the grass is certainly easier on them than the dirt,” said Donk. “The game has changed. I believe people don’t run their horses enough.”

That being said, Donk admitted he didn’t expect the type of performance in the Troy he got from Thin White Duke.

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“I was surprised as anyone with his effort and if he comes back and runs that number again in this race he should win it,” Donk said. “Can he do it, especially in a race where he will be pace dependent? I don’t know.”

Big Package will be pace dependent as well in the Lucky Coin but is also in top form, having finished a late-running second in a pair of high-level allowance sprints on the turf in his most recent starts. He was beaten less than a length combined in those races.

“He’s the same kind of horse as the other. He has a big turn of foot when he’s right,” said Donk. “I’d love them to be running six furlongs but he also runs well over this course, which I feel is very important.”

Unfortunately for Donk, the Lucky Coin is surprisingly bereft of early speed, especially for a turf sprint stakes, with The Critical Way likely the one to catch shipping over from Monmouth Park where he won the five-furlong Get Serious Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion with a 102 Beyer during the spring.

Proven Strategies, a front-running winner of several two-turn races earlier in his career, has turned into a late-running sprinter of late, having finished ahead of The Critical Way in both the Select and Wolf Hill stakes at Monmouth in his last two starts.

Dancing Buck is in top form, having won his last two starts, including a 5 1/2-furlong second-level optional-claiming and allowance dash in his local turf debut five weeks earlier.

Voodoo Zip has been the favorite in eight of his last nine appearances, winning four of those races, and gets some class relief dropping out of a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Highlander at Woodbine on July 2.