Raging Bull by a nose in Hall of Fame stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Friday’s featured $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) had three distinct phases. In Phase One, Gidu, the 3-1 second choice, led the field on a merry chase, leading by as many as a halfdozen lengths on the backstretch. The advantage was still four or five when the Irish-bred son of Frankel turned for home..
Phase Two began when Gidu finally started backing up in mid-stretch, allowing the field – led by Maraud and Ride a Comet – to have a chance. With the wire fast approaching, a surge by Maraud enabled him to put away both Gidu and Ride a Comet with what appeared to be a winning move.
Phase Three lasted only a
few seconds. It consisted of the sensational closing strides of the Frenchbred Raging Bull, who had trailed by better than a dozen lengths on the backstretch. Flying down the middle of the track, the son of Dark Angel collared Maraud just short of the wire, then won the bob to get up by a nose.
“I was concerned because it didn’t look like he was getting hold of the ground very well,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “[Winning jockey] Joel [Rosario] said once he got in the clear, the ground was a little better on the outside. I didn’t think he was going to win until he got to the wire. Remarkable turn of foot.”
Raging Bull, the 5-2 favorite, made up nearly 3½ lengths over the final furlong. He was clocked in 1:43.69 for 1 1/16 miles over a “good” Mellon turf course.
Maraud finished a length and a quarter clear of Ride a Comet for the place. Gidu managed to stick around for fourth money and was followed by Combatant, Have At It, Westerland, Gunnison and Gemonteer. Battle At Sea and Sand Dancer were scratched.
Raging Bull still had nearly 10 lengths to make up midway around the turn.
“[The turf] is a little soft,” said Rosario, who has been aboard Raging Bull in all four career starts. “He was struggling with it. He’s the kind of horse that has a big stride and keeps going. I tried to be in the clear. When I wanted to run, I didn’t want anybody to be in my way because he takes some time to get into his stride.
Raging Bull, who races for Peter M. Brant, has three wins and a second from four starts, and has earned $218,500. As far as his trainer is concerned, though, his colt is still undefeated.
“He probably should have won his last race, but he was caught in a oneturn mile at Belmont with no pace,” said Brown. “He just had no shot, but he ran a winning race. I planned his next race (the Hall of Fame) as if he’d won.”