Troubleshooting gave trainer Greg Foley his first Grade 1 win, rallying to take Saturday’s $2-million Franklin Simpson (G1) going 6 ½ furlongs on the all-turf racecourse at Kentucky Downs.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione saved ground throughout, sitting behind the leaders in fifth by a couple of lengths, chasing fractions of :22.00 and :44.17 for the first four furlongs set by Mi Bago. As the field entered the stretch, Out on Bail confronted Mi Bago to taking the lead. Golden Afternoon, who had been third, began his run, with Troubleshooting moving up alongside on the outside. In the final sixteenth, Golden Afternoon and Troubleshooting battled to the wire, with Troubleshooting prevailing by a half length. Second choice in the betting, Governor Sam finished third and Antisocial fourth. Race favorite Spiced Up finished last.

Advertisement

Troubleshooting covered the 6½ furlongs in 1:14.33, paying $13.84 to win at odds of 6-1.

“The horse broke alertly. There was traffic going into the first turn and I had to take a pretty good hold. He got himself set up pretty well and was traveling like a good horse,” said Gaffalione. “He kept firing and finished up nicely. I’m just happy for Greg Foley. This is his first Grade 1.”

The son of Not This Time had raced in five consecutive 5 ½ furlong turf races prior to earning his first graded stakes victory. He picked up his first stakes win during that stretch at Ellis Park two starts back in the Dade Park Dash Stakes.

“When you have a very good horse, you can be pretty confident. He fit for sure. It was just if you can get in there and get lucky,” said Foley. “For $2 million you know it’s going to be the best there is around right now, a couple of horses that came from Saratoga and that. But this horse has been running against good horses, too. Ellis isn’t any picnic anymore.

Advertisement

Troubleshooting is a 3-year-old Kentucky homebred by Donamire Farm. By Not This Time, he is out of the Into Mischief mare Into Trouble. From nine career starts he has three wins and three seconds.

“We bred the mare to Not This Time back when he was just getting started out, and he was having a lot of nice 2-year-olds. We were lucky enough to get in on the ground floor with this guy. We were very fortunate,” said Mike Ball, son of Donamire Farm owner Mira Ball.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.