Raging Bull Up Just in Time in Hall of Fame Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Raging Bull (outside) gets a nose in front of Maraud to win the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Jockey Joel Rosario could feel his mount was out of his comfort zone over the rain-soaked turf at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3.
But while Raging Bull didn't relish the soft going in Friday's National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), the son of Dark Angel found enough footing and class to produce the optimal result in the 1 1/16-mile test, rallying from well off the pace to nail Maraud by a nose at the wire and give trainer Chad Brown his fourth consecutive victory in the race.
Purchased for $100,935 out of the 2016 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Peter Brant's Raging Bull has added to his two-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner's noted turf arsenal since debuting at Keeneland in April. The only blemish the bay colt has in four starts is a runner-up effort in the July 4 Manila Stakes at Belmont Park.
When pacesetter Gidu ran to a six-length lead down the backstretch as Raging Bull battled to get a hold of the soggy going while rating seventh in the nine-horse field, there was some concern the colt who began his career with back-to-back wins was in danger of suffering his second straight defeat.
Gidu still held a three-length advantage going into the stretch after rattling off fractions of :23.44 and :47.23, but the pack was beginning to reel in his leg-weary self. Multiple graded stakes winner Maraud looked to be the beneficiary when he surged up inside Ride a Comet to strike the front in late stretch, but Raging Bull launched his own bid on the far outside under well-timed handling.
"It was very soft for him, and he was struggling the whole time just to keep up," Rosario said. "But he got the job done, and that was great."
In his first time beyond eight furlongs, 5-2 betting favorite Raging Bull hit the wire in 1:43.69 over the yielding course to earn his third win over as many tracks. Following his debut victory at Keeneland April 19, Raging Bull used his late kick to notch a three-quarter-length victory in a one-mile optional-claiming allowance race at Belmont Park June 8.
Maraud was second by 1 1/4 lengths over Ride a Comet, with Gidu fading to fourth. Combatant rounded out the top five.
Bred in France by Dayton Investments Limited, Raging Bull is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Rosa Bonheur. He improved his earnings to $218,500.