Despite training three millionaires in Bango, Champali, and Sconsin, Greg Foley had never earned a grade 1 victory in a career that began in 1981. That changed Sept. 6 when Troubleshooting rallied down the stretch and outgamed Golden Afternoon to triumph in the $1,994,300 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) at Kentucky Downs.
A homebred for Mira Ball's Donamire Farm, Kentucky-bred Troubleshooting took home $1,154,900 in one 6 1/2-furlong swoop to become Foley's fourth millionaire. Despite the monumental moment in his career, a humble Foley was quick to default credit to his team and owners.
"They raise nothing but good horses," Foley said of Donamire Farm. "It's a pleasure to train for them. I'm tickled for myself, but I'm more happy for them."
A son of Not This Time , Troubleshooting has steadily grown into a fine racehorse for Foley. Making his ninth career start Saturday, he exited his two career-best efforts when posting a 104 Equibase Speed Figure in winning Ellis Park's Dade Park Dash Stakes July 4 and a 103 ESF for a nose defeat to talented Litigation in an allowance at the same track one month later.
"When you have a pretty good horse, you can be pretty confident," Foley said. "He fit for sure. It was just if you can get in there and get lucky."
It looked like the race was unlucky at the start as jockey Tyler Gaffalione found himself high in the saddle in the early stages while trying to keep off the heels of the leaders. However, he managed to relax the horse in fifth on the rail behind fractions of :22.00 and :44.17 before pointing to the clear entering the long Kentucky Downs stretch.
"He got himself set up pretty well and was traveling like a good horse," Gaffalione said. "He kept firing and finished up nicely."
Golden Afternoon, who himself was trying to give 25-year-old trainer Nick Vaccarezza his first grade 1 triumph, hung tough inside of him as they reached the final sixteenth, but Troubleshooting's momentum carried him to the wire a half-length ahead. Governor Sam, who raced alongside Troubleshooting early, ran on for third.
Troubleshooting stopped the clock in 1:14.33, paying $13.84 to win as the 12-horse field's fourth choice. Favored Spiced Up raced near the tail of the field and never launched a rally, finishing last.
From the apron, Foley and his family were cheering Gaffalione and Troubleshooting on before celebrations ensued. Included in that celebration was Foley's sister, Vickie, who herself trained Hog Creek Hustle to win the 2019 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1).
"It's been a long time trying to get a grade 1, it feels good," Foley said. "We got to riding him a little bit the last eighth of a mile."
Troubleshooting is the first grade 1 winner this season and ninth graded winner for Not This Time, who stood the 2025 season at Taylor Made Stallions for a $175,000 fee. He is out of the stakes-winning Into Mischief mare Into Trouble, who raced in the Donamire Farm silks after being purchased for $180,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Mike Ball, son of Donamire Farm's Mira Ball, said the team would discuss next-race options for the colt. He suggested that the team may decide to stretch out a bit further in distance.
"I don't know if we want to go back to sprints," he said. "There's not a lot out there after this for sprints, but that will be up to Greg."
