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More stakes fame for Thin White Duke in $150K Lucky Coin

by Keith McCalmont

Phil Gleaves, Steven Crist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard’s New York-bred Thin White Duke outdueled Dancing Buck to secure his third career stakes score in Friday’s $150,000 Lucky Coin, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by David Donk and patiently handled by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, the 4-year-old Dominus gelding bested his fellow state-breds in the Funny Cide at Saratoga and Aspirant at Finger Lakes as a juvenile, but proved Friday that he continues to perform at the top level approaching his golden years.

Thin White Duke entered from a closing third in the Grade 3 Troy on August 5 over firm Spa turf, finishing just a neck back of the victorious dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal. The effort garnered a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Obviously, he ran huge last time with a big Beyer number. If he came close to that, he was going to be real tough today,” Donk said. “He just really improved and certainly appreciates sprinting. Johnny did a great job riding him. A lot of fun to win it for Phil, Steve, Ken and Bryan. I’m honored to have it.”

The Critical Way broke alertly and led the seven-horse field through splits of 22.71 seconds and 45.95 over the firm going as Thin White Duke tracked comfortably in fourth position. The Manny Franco-piloted Dancing Buck advanced from third position into the turn as The Critical Way clung to a precarious lead.

Voodoo Zip, with Joel Rosario up, loomed large with a ground-saving trip as the field straightened away and Velazquez angled Thin White Duke wide into the stretch run in pursuit of Dancing Buck. But Voodoo Zip failed to fire and Thin White Duke and Dancing Buck hit the wire together in a final time of 1:03.43 with Fauci closing from well back to complete the trifecta just three-quarters of a length in arrears. Voodoo Zip, Proven Strategies, The Critical Way and the slow-starting Big Package completed the order of finish. Maxwell Esquire and main-track only entrants Wendell Fong and Wudda U Think Now were scratched.

The victory provided Velazquez with a record-extending 200th career stakes win at Saratoga.

“I moved a little too late. I was waiting for Joel in the back. I’m thinking, ‘If he comes, I’ll go with him,’ and I mean, the other horse [The Critical Way] almost got loose,” said Velazquez, the winningest rider in Spa history. “I was waiting for a horse behind me. I just told Dave, ‘Man, I was a little too patient waiting for Joel and he never showed up.’ We know he has a good kick, I was just hoping it was enough to catch up.”

It was the second stakes win of the meet for Donk, who saddled the undefeated Fingal’s Cave to victory in the Fleet Indian.

“I’ve only been around two riders who criticize themselves when they win, and that’s Johnny and Ramon [Dominguez], so we’ll take those all the time,” Donk said. “It wasn’t a big pace today. I’m just happy if they run well. I’ve been on the other side a lot. That’s OK, that’s all we can ask."

Gleaves, who bred Thin White Duke and trained him through the end of last year, was full of praise for the job Donk has done since taking over conditioning duties.

“I had him as a 2-year-old, won a couple stakes for me as a 2-year-old. We had a rough go of it last year, had some physical problems,” Gleaves said. “We took him to the farm and gave him time off. I retired, Dave has since had him and he's thrived under Dave's care and I can't overstate the job Dave has done with the horse and our other horses."

Franco said he was proud of the effort by the hard luck Dancing Buck.

"I had a good trip. The race set up the way I expected, I just got run down,” Franco said. “This is a nice horse and he always tries. He's a nice sprinter and proved that. Today, he just got beat by a better horse."

Bred in the Empire State by Gleaves, Thin White Duke banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 18-4-3-5. He returned $10.40 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga with a 13-race card featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac in Race 4, the Grade 2, $600,000 Flower Bowl in Race 10 and the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup in Race 11. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern. 

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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