Raging Torrent

It has always been a small farm, and nowadays they're down to no more than half a dozen mares. Some of the more strenuous duties, moreover, have lately been contracted out. After all, Alfonso Mazzetti is not as young as he was. It's been a long and winding road since he used to ride a motorcycle, aged just 11, to the racetrack in Lima where he would shoot pool with the jockeys; never mind the many years in Colorado in between. Such a long and winding road, in fact, that...

Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar was billed as a showdown between the top sprinter in the West, two-time GI Bing Crosby Stakes winner The Chosen Vron (Vronsky), and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), winner of the world's richest race, the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. The Chosen Vron toted a gaudy six-race win steak, while Senor Buscador was returning from a break after finishing third in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Despite the headlines, apparently Mark Davis and Great Friends Stable's Raging Torrent (c, 3, Maximus Mischief-Violent Wave, by Violence),...

A talented if unlucky juvenile runner, Raging Torrent broke his maiden on debut at Del Mar but had to settle for third, fourth and fourth respectively behind 'TDN Rising Stars' in Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) in the GIII Best Pal Stakes and the GI Del Mar Futurity and Muth (Nyquist) in the GI American Pharoah Stakes. Brought back as a 3-year-old on the grass, he made a good account of himself when second in the John Shear Stakes two back April 7. He then broke through in a big way...

It should be no shock that the path to glory in the GIII Best Pal S. will pass through the barn of Bob Baffert at Del Mar Sunday afternoon. He'll bring back a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in $2m OBS March sales topper Muth (Good Magic) and $950,000 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale grad Prince of Monaco (Speightstown). Both colts impressed in their lone prior starts--Muth earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in his gate-to-wire 8 3/4-length blowout at Santa Anita June 18 while Prince of Monaco rolled...

8th-Del Mar, $84,000, Msw, 7-23, 2yo, 5f, :57.71, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. RAGING TORRENT (c, 2, Maximus Mischief--Violent Wave, by Violence) received an unconvincing 9-1 chance in this maiden spot after bringing $75,000 at the OBS April Sale and was a step slow behind the field to start. In chase mode from the bell, he saved ground into the turn and fanned out wide to bid with a quarter to run. Despite Antonio Fresu losing his crop at the head of the lane, Raging Torrent needed no extra encouragement, drawing...

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at both Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the horses entered for Sunday at Saratoga and Ellis and Del Mar: Sunday, July 23, 2023...