Raging Bull turns tables on Up the Ante in Saranac

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Raging Bull avenged his only career defeat when he ran by Up the Ante in deep stretch and drew away to a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga.

Up the Ante, who defeated Raging Bull in the Manila Stakes at Belmont Park on July 4, had to settle for second, a neck in front of March to the Arch. Hot Springs finished fourth and was followed, in order, by Golden Brown, Sand Dancer, Therapist, Free Drop Billy, and Maraud.

The win was the third on the card for trainer Chad Brown, who with his first win of the day established a single-meet win record at Saratoga with 41. He now has 43.

Raging Bull provided two of those victories having earlier in this meet won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes with a furious late rally to beat Maraud by a nose over yielding ground.

Brown said he wasn’t sure he was going to run Raging Bull back in the Saranac until he saw the colt’s energy level after two easy workouts.

Brown said he called owner Peter Brant and told him he wanted to run Raging Bull “if the forecast is clear. I want to see the horse run a mile and an eighth on firm ground.”

In several of his previous races, Raging Bull was well off the pace. Saturday, he broke better and put Joel Rosario in a good spot, an up-close fifth while Up the Ante set fractions of 23.25 seconds for the quarter, 48.04, for the half-mile and 1:12.11 for six furlongs.

Turning for home, Rosario guided Raging Bull into the clear and he was able fly past Up the Ante inside the sixteenth pole for his fourth victory in five career starts.

Raging Bull, a French-bred son of Dark Angel, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.19 and returned $6.50 as the favorite.

“The horse should really be undefeated, he got caught in a paceless race going a mile at Belmont and ran a big, big race to close and couldn’t get there,” Brown said. “This horse has a remarkable turn of foot. He knows where the wire is; he’s an immense talent.”

Brown said he would likely consider two more races this year for Raging Bull: the Grade 2, $500,000 Hill Prince at Belmont on Oct. 6 and the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Dec. 1.