Raging Bull, Maraud Renew Rivalry in Saranac

Peter Brant's Raging Bull, who bested Maraud by a nose in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), will face his rival again in the $300,000 Saranac Stakes (G3T) Sept. 1 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Raging Bull, a French-bred son of Dark Angel trained by Chad Brown, won his debut April 19 at Keeneland and followed with an optional-claiming allowance win at Belmont Park in June. Trying stakes company for the first time, he finished second in the July 4 Manila Stakes at Belmont before he won the Hall of Fame on a yielding turf course.

Raging Bull worked four furlongs in :50.77 Aug. 24 on the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Saranac.

"He's been coming along well," Brown said. "My only concern would be if the turf course isn't playing fair with his running style, but otherwise it's all systems go."

Raging Bull will leave post 3 with regular rider Joel Rosario in the irons as part of a 121-pound impost.

Treadway Racing Stable's Maraud will look to turn the tables on Raging Bull. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Blame  colt has made 10 starts with four victories, one second, and two third-place finishes. Kicking off his 2018 campaign with a victory in the March 3 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, he followed with a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland before he rebounded to win the American Turf Stakes Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) at Churchill Downs. Maraud finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in his two starts before the Hall of Fame, and Pletcher said he expects Maraud to be at his top form Saturday.

"He's trained well since his last race," said Pletcher. "He was a little unlucky to miss a head bob in his last race, but he acts like he's maintained his form like he usually does coming in for this."

Maraud will depart post 9 with meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons as the 123-pound co-highweight. Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist also carries 123 for trainer Christophe Clement off back-to-back wins in New York Stallion Series races.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen entered Woodford Racing's Hot Springs. Purchased for $750,000 as a yearling, the Uncle Mo  colt rebounded from a ninth-place finish in his debut with an impressive 4 1/4-length victory in his second start June 3 at Churchill. Following up with a June 29 allowance victory, he made his graded stakes debut in the July 14 Kent Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park, where he finished second to Golden Brown, who is also entered in the Saranac.

Making a move from the main track is Free Drop Billy, who has not started since he finished seventh in the June 9 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). This will be the turf debut for the Union Rags  colt, who won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old on the Keeneland main track.

Up the Ante, Sand Dancer, and March to the Arch complete the field. 

Entries: Saranac S. (G3T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, September 01, 2018, Race 9

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $300,000
• 3 yo
• 5:39 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Up the Ante (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	Christophe Clement	7/2
2	2March to the Arch (FL)	Jose L. Ortiz	119	Mark E. Casse	10/1
3	3Raging Bull (FR)	Joel Rosario	121	Chad C. Brown	2/1
4	4Golden Brown (NJ)	Jairo Rendon	121	Patrick B. McBurney	12/1
5	5Sand Dancer (KY)	Dylan Davis	121	Timothy A. Hills	20/1
6	6Hot Springs (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	117	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
7	7Therapist (NY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Christophe Clement	8/1
8	8Free Drop Billy (KY)	Luis Saez	117	Dale L. Romans	6/1
9	9Maraud (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	123	Todd A. Pletcher	9/2