Rashaan Earns North American Win in NY Turf Writers Cup

Rashaan didn't arrive in the United States until his 7-year-old campaign in 2019. But Aug. 20 he proved he was worth the wait, leading a six-horse field out of the final hurdles and fending off stablemate Redicean's stretch-drive push to win the $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-1) steeplechase in the card's opener at Saratoga Race Course. 

Making just his fourth North American start, Rashaan won his first graded stakes and first since shipping from his native Ireland last year, posting a two-length score in the 2 3/8-mile race on the firm inner turf course.

Pravalaguna led the field and was still in command heading over the ninth and final hurdle with Rashaan tracking close in second under jockey Thomas Garner. Into the flat portion of the race, Rashaan, trained by Leslie Young, overtook the pacesetter and was set down entering the stretch.

Straightening for home, Redicean, also trained by Young, made a bid to Rashaan's inside, but Garner kept his charge alert and they dueled in the final sixteenth before drawing away, posting a final time of 4:34.20. 

Garner, who won the race for the second straight year after piloting the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Winston C in 2019, had his choice to ride either Rashaan and Redicean and said he doubted his selection only for a moment.

"The plan was to be handy with him," Garner said. "He's a horse that's not easy at all. He has all the ability in the world, but it's only on his terms. Training him at home, if he doesn't want to train in the morning, he won't go anywhere. He's a real tricky one.

"The team did a great job with him. I ride him every day. He's a happy horse and he really enjoyed his work. I came here hopeful rather than confident, I actually thought the better horse was Redicean and I'd made the wrong choice, but he put his best foot forward. He's got so much ability, and when he wants to do it, there's not a lot that will get by him."

Owned by Bruton Street-US, Rashaan won 13 times in Europe since 2015. He did not finish his first start in the U.S. in the Oct. 19 Grand National Hurdle (NSA-1) at Far Hills before running back seven days later to finish fifth in the David L. Ferguson Memorial Hurdle (NSA-2).

Off an eight-month break, Rashaan earned North American black type, finishing third in the June 13 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle (NSA-3) at Glenwood Park at Middleburg before earning a trip to the winner's circle in his Saratoga debut.

"Rashaan has all of the ability. He's won 13 races in Ireland and he was bred by the Aga Khan and is related well to serious flat horses," Young said. "He had been training very well. We had a horse win last week and they all worked very well, but he was doing it very easily. I thought if he could just do this in a race without overthinking it."

Off at odds of 8-1, Rashaan returned $18 on a $2 win wager. He improved his earnings to $363,687.