The eighth race on Saratoga’s Sunday card, the Grade II Troy Stakes is a five and a half furlong turf sprint for three year olds and upward. Featured on the day along with the Grade III Adirondack, this contest ships in two Midlantic runners who start as middling longshots. In this field of seven, Determined Kingdom and Our Shot will break from the inside and outside posts respectively if the race remains on the turf. With Mainframe scratching out of the Whitney yesterday and Post Time missing the board for the first time, these runners will look to get Midlantic breds back on track in Saratoga stakes.

Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm Equine LLC, Determined Kingdom begins here at 15/1 on the morning line in his second lifetime start at the Spa. With twenty-four turf tries in his career, this six year old gelding is the most experienced grass runner in this field and has specialized at sprint distances. A winner of half of his twenty turf sprints at the distance, Determined Kingdom has shown plenty of ability and good early speed at the stakes level, with much of his success coming in the Midlantic. This year, he switched into the barn of Michael Trombetta from Phil Schoenthal and has yet to pick up a win in three stakes tries in Maryland. By Animal Kingdom – Filia, by Fastnet Rock (AUS), it is possible that Determined Kingdom has done his best racing at this level, or simply needs a more aggressive ride to get back to his winning ways. Ricardo Santana Jr. takes the irons here and should be looking to get the lead within the first quarter mile. While this race is certainly a step up in competition from his pervious tries, maybe a change of scenery and quick start will be enough to give these new connections their first win with this gelding. Determined Kingdom is owned by The Estate of R. Larry Johnson and was purchased at the Keeneland sale for $190,000 this past November.

A more familiar face at the Spa, Our Shot begins from post seven as the slightly warmer 12/1 morning line runner after a disappointing finish in the Harvey Pack Stakes on July 4th following his eighth place in the Grade I Jaipur. In what was his sixth try over this turf course, Our Shot failed to hit the board for the second straight time at Saratoga, proving no match for the near track record performance by Bring Theband Home at this same distance. Typically a late finisher for trainer John Terranova, this six year old gelding by Kantharos – Fleetheart, by Northern Afleet will have to chase down the speedy Bring Theband Home once again as he begins here at the short odds of 3/5. While he may be tough to catch if he runs close to his Harvey Pack, the presence of a few other forward runners such as Determined Kingdom could soften the favorite in the early goings. Our Shot will still be up against it from a running style perspective here as he has not been able to finish with the same strength as last year. Getting back one of the strongest turf finishers in the game in Joel Rosario should help him turn in a better performance, as he has typically showed his talent when competing over this turf course. While both Midlantic entries may have uphill battles to climb, with the right scenario and top performances, either runner can score an upset in this strong grade II field. Our Shot was bred in Pennsylvania by Dr. S. Mark Rayburg Inc. and is owned by Gatsas Stables, Steven Schoenfeld, and John P. Terranova II.

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