Twisted Tom too good for foes in Albany Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Twisted Tom conceded weight, was fanned wide on the far turn, but still proved clearly best in the $250,000 Albany at Saratoga on Friday, giving trainer Chad Brown a sweep of the New York Showcase Day stakes for 3-year-olds.
Earlier in the day, Brown had won the $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes with 1-20 favorite Sunset Ridge. In all, he won three races on the card and will come into the Travers Day program Saturday trailing Todd Pletcher by a single win in the trainer standings.
Twisted Tom carried 124 pounds in the Albany, five more than second highweight Pat On the Back and seven more than his four other rivals. He bided his time early in the 1 1/8-mile race under jockey Javier Castellano, then commenced his bid four wide on the far turn with pacesetter D'yer Mak'er, second choice Broken Engagement, and Pat on the Back to his inside from the rail out.
Twisted Tom pulled away in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He paid $4.30 and was timed in 1:50.25.
Can You Diggit, who raced behind the leading foursome on the far turn, rallied in the stretch to overtake Pat On the Back for second by 1 3/4 lengths. It was four more lengths back to Broken Engagement in fourth.
Twisted Tom, a New York-bred gelded son of Creative Cause, has now won five of his last six starts dating back to January. His only loss during that time came in the Belmont Stakes, a race in which he was stepped on from behind on the first turn, suffering significant cuts to his legs, according to Brown.
"I am so proud of this horse," Brown said. "He was very wide today, and he was giving weight. To overcome all that and draw away like he did was great to see."
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Brown said he would speak with Twisted Tom's owners - Head of Plains Partners, Cobra Farm, and R R Partners - before determining a next race, but the $300,000 Empire Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race against older statebreds at Belmont Park on Oct. 21, would seem one possible option.
Twisted Tom has now won 6 of 9 starts, including four stakes - the Private Terms and Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, the New York Derby at Finger Lakes, and the Albany. He has earned $500,131.