Raging Sea, who upset champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga last time out, will likely head next to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff after outbattling a stubborn Batucada in the GII Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct Sunday. The 1-9 favorite was allowed to settle into stride and was unhurried while racing off the early pace. She rushed up into contention on the bend and came with a full head of steam as longshot Batucada turned for home with a one-length advantage. Raging Sea eyeballed the gray at midstretch and looked set to blow on by, but Batucada fought on, only to miss by a nose on the line.
“She's a late-running horse and takes a little bit to get in gear out of the gate, but Flavien [Prat] knows her so well and that was a tough foe down on the inside that fought back and made for a closer finish than we thought,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “That said, I chose this race because I thought there was a possibility she might bounce a bit off her last effort–it was just such a strong run up at Saratoga to run down a super horse and I thought she'd feel that race in her next one. So, I thought I'd maybe pick an easier spot for her. I think we saw a little bit of her hanging and waiting a little bit, which she has done in the past. I also think she felt that race at Saratoga late today. That was part of my reasoning for staying home and running in a much easier spot than the Spinster. The more I thought about it, I thought she'd feel that race from Saratoga and react a bit. I'm happy to get maybe a soft bounce out of the way off that race and hopefully circle back to that race at Saratoga if you're going to go out West and tackle the best.”
Raging Sea, third in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, ended her sophomore campaign with a win in the 2023 GIII Comely Stakes. She retured at four to win the Apr. 19 GIII Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland and, following a fourth-place finish in the June 8 GI Ogden Phipps Stakes, won the July 21 GII Shuvee Stakes. She just got her nose in front of champion Idiomatic to win the Aug. 23 Personal Ensign Stakes last time out.
Pedigree Notes:
Stormy Welcome has a yearling filly by City of Light who RNA'd for $340,000 at this year's Keeneland September sale. The mare, from the family of Summer Squall and A.P. Indy, was purchased as a 9-year-old by Alpha Delta for $600,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. She was bred to Curlin this year.
Sunday, Belmont The Big A
BELDAME S.-GII, $242,500, Belmont The Big A, 10-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft.
1–RAGING SEA, 123, f, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Welcome Surprise, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Weekend Surprise, by Secretariat
($300,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP). O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC
(KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $137,500. Lifetime
Record: GISW, 12-7-1-1, $1,198,478. *1/2 to Welcoming
(Tapit), MSP, $179,812. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Batucada, 123, f, 4, Union Rags–Lady Pamela, by Tapit.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($35,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $150,000
2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Morgan L. Joseph and Carrie L. Brogden;
B-Wygod Equine, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $50,000.
3–Signal From Noise, 123, m, 5, Arrogate–Holiday Soiree,
by Harlan's Holiday. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($280,000 Ylg
'20 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
Margins: HD, 4HF, 6. Odds: 0.10, 22.00, 17.80.
Also Ran: Frosty O Toole, Majestic Creed, Libban.
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