Nothing was going to keep Anthony McCarthy from getting his dress shoes dirty Wednesday afternoon.
Not intermittent rain throughout the morning and afternoon that moved the $100,000 Troy Stakes off the turf.
Not a sloppy track for the 5 ½-furlong race.
Not a short argument with a security guard as a female member of his party tried to, aghast, walk with him to the paddock wearing what the guard thought looked like shorts.
And not the four opponents Spring to the Sky would need to beat so his owner could get ankle deep in the Saratoga mud
Well, almost nothing was going to stop him.
The stewards weren’t sure about what they saw in the stretch as Spring to the Sky held off Dads Caps to win the Troy. Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of the runner-up wasn’t so sure either, and he claimed foul against the winner.
McCarthy got his shoes caked in mud either way, since he was a couple yards off the outside rail and standing on the track when the inquiry lights went up on the board. Fortunately for him dousing his shoes wasn’t for naught as the matter was quickly resolved and the Saratoga Springs native grabbed the shank to lead his 5-year-old son of Langfuhr to the winner’s circle.
To read the rest of the Troy recap, download Thursday’s digital edition of The Saratoga Special presented by Keeneland Sales.
