By Alan Carasso
When Title Role (GB) loads the gate as one of the favorites for Saturday's $750,000 GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, he will have a new majority owner after Texas-businessman Will Stroud struck a deal to buy into the talented son of the appropriately named Too Darn Hot (GB).
A 90,000gns Tattersalls October yearling turned 500,000gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up grad, Title Role was a maiden winner over the Kempton all-weather in a pair of juvenile appearances for Simon and Ed Crisford and spent the winter at the Dubai Racing Carnival.
There he won two of his three outings, including the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas over a mile–defeating Pacific Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–ahead of a low-odds fifth in Newbury's G3 Greenham Stakes at seven furlongs. He exits a staying-on, 1 1/4-length success in the G2 Mehl-Muelhens Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) at Cologne May 25.
Title Role is co-owned by Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, in whose purple colors the colt will run on Saturday.
“He's undefeated [in three starts at] a mile, which we liked, which kind of suits what our goals are,” said Stroud, who will also be represented in the GI Belmont Oaks with Euro shipper Kensington Lane (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) through Medallion Racing. Stroud said he maintains an ownership interest in 'about 35 horses'. “Great turf horse, great lineage, great mover. I think he's perfect for the U.S. and especially perfect for New York. I'm really, really excited.”
Stroud said the deal to acquire the colt closed about three weeks ago and he is quietly confident that Title Role's overseas form will see him through this longest test of his career.
“Well, we're going to see where he falls and hopefully that track is to his liking,” he said. “We're going to just kind of see and take him one day at a time. That extra furlong was probably going to be I think all the horses in the field have all won at a mile or a mile and a sixteenth.
Stroud reports that co-trainer Ed Crisford is due into Saratoga on Saturday to handle the saddling duties for the final time. Brendan Walsh takes over following the Belmont Derby.
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