Ralis Rallies to Hopeful Stakes Upset

Reddam Racing's homebred Ralis shipped into Saratoga Race Course and pulled an upset victory over favored Magna Light in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) for 2-year-olds Sept. 7.

A California-bred son of Square Eddie   trained by Doug O'Neill, Ralis and jockey Javier Castellano stalked the early pace set by 2-1 favorite Magna Light before making a strong move at the quarter pole. With steady urging from his jockey, Ralis took over at the furlong marker and won going away, with the final margin 5 3/4 lengths. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.34.

The victory was the second in five starts for Ralis, who broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park in his second outing and was coming off a second in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar previous to the Hopeful.Ralis paid $15.80, $6.40, and $3.70. Magna Light returned $3.80 and $2.70, with Uncle Vinny paying $2.60. Sallisaw had a troubled trip to finish fourth, followed by Tom's Ready, Set the Trappe, and Bullet Gone Astray. Sticksstatelydued was a veterinarian scratch.

"He broke well out of the gate today," said jockey Castellano. "I thought he was going to be a little too far back. He broke sharp from the gate. He had a great post outside to take a bit of a nice hold and to see how the race developed in the first quarter. It was a perfect trip. I'm very blessed to ride that horse.



Thinking ahead to a possible Triple Crown campaign with Ralis, Castellano said: "It's really exciting because I don't think I've won the Hopeful before in my career. I think that is the kind of horse we are looking for for next year. I'm looking forward to next year."

Castellano, who finished second to Irad Ortiz, Jr., in the jockey standings, also scored grade I victories in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt aboard Rock Fall, the Whitney with Honor Code, the Travers on Keen Ice, the Alabama with Embellish the Lace and the Woodward with Liam's Map.

 

"I feel great," he said of the victories. "I'm very thankful. A lot of people have given me a lot of support to be thankfully the number one jockey in grade I's here in Saratoga. It's a good record and I'm proud to be participating at the best track in the country. I have a lot of support: my agent, my trainers and the owners."



The winning connections are probably familiar to most racing fans as Reddam Racing and trainer O'Neill teamed to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes, both grade I, with I'll Have Another   in 2012. The colt was scratched prior to his attempt at the elusive Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).