Title Role (GB)

Having been in the business for only about three years and with only six horses campaigning in the U.S., Will Stroud knew enough to have modest expectations. He had set a few goals but wondered if he would ever achieve them. He doesn't have to wonder anymore. Over the course of one hour and 20 minutes, the owner won two Grade I races in Saratoga. It started with a win by Kensington Lane (Ire) (Star Spangled Banner ({Aus}) in the GI Belmont Oaks. Two races later, his Title Role (GB)...

For as clear as the winner of the GI Belmont Oaks was just two races prior, the GI Belmont Derby was a diametrically opposed result. It came down to a desperate photo on the wire that ultimately went to Title Role (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over a fast-closing West End Kid (Twirling Candy). Title Role spent 2026 accumulating frequent flier miles with trips to Meydan, Newbury, and Cologne in Germany credited to his passport since Jan. 2 when he ran third in the Jumeirah Stakes. He claimed the Jumeirah...

Fresh after a small break, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's Title Role (Too Darn Hot) showed he could handle the heat to take Monday's G2 Coolmore City Of Troy German 2000 Guineas at Cologne. Having beaten Godolphin's subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas third Pacific Avenue and exciting prospect Talk Of New York in Meydan's Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained relative of Courage Mon Ami had been fifth in the G3 Greenham Stakes over an inadequate seven furlongs. Settled against the rail by Sean Levey early,...