The third time was the charm for Peter Brant's Raging Bull in the $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
Fourth in the race in 2019 and third in 2020, the 6-year-old son of Dark Angel found the winner's circle while firing fresh off the bench April 9 in his first start since a 10th in the Nov. 7 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T).
Rallying from behind a blistering pace set by Get Smokin and capitalizing from a ground-saving ride by Irad Ortiz Jr. around the second turn, Raging Bull swung out three wide, took charge in early stretch, and held off the late advance of Ride a Comet en route to a two-length win.
Fellow Chad Brown trainee Sacred Life , making his first start since a fourth in the Sept. 5 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T) at Churchill Downs, finished a half-length back in third.
"Both horses ran great, especially given the layoffs they were facing," Brown said. "Raging Bull got a great trip and setup. He's much more effective with a solid pace in front of him. Irad deserves a lot of credit for getting him into the race early and securing a great spot into the first turn."
Get Smokin went to the lead after breaking alertly from the inside in the nine-horse field and set opening fractions of :22.47 and :45.65 while Raging Bull took the rail trip, moving from sixth at the half to third as three-quarters went in 1:10.24.
According to Bet Keeneland, which utilizes a database going back to 2007, the opening half of the race was the third-fastest of any turf route race run since then and the fastest since 2010. More than 400 races are in that mix.
The eventual winner quickly drove clear through the lane and held sway under firm hand urging through the final furlong. He raced a mile on good turf in 1:33.86 and paid $9 for a $2 win wager as the 7-2 second choice.
Field Pass, favored Hit the Road, Darain, Somelikeithotbrown , Get Smokin, and Flying Scotsman completed the order of finish.
Before his off-the-board finish in the Breeders' Cup, Raging Bull just missed taking home the 2020 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) when he rallied to finish second by a length to Ivar. This is his third grade 1 win, paired with a 2020 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) score at Santa Anita Park and the 2018 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar. His last 15 starts have come in graded stakes company, the past 12 at the highest level.
Bred in France by Dayton Investments Limited out of the Mr. Greeley mare Rosa Bonheur, Raging Bull was purchased for US$100,935 by E. Colombo Agency from The Castlebridge Consignment at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. He now has a 7-3-3 record from 18 starts, with earnings of $1,496,750. He is the third of seven foals out of Rosa Bonheur, whose last reported foal is a Dubawi yearling colt. The mare also produced a 2-year-old full brother to Raging Bull named Bobbie D.
"It's great (to win) at Keeneland especially, because there's always that reluctance to believe he's going to improve form over this track, especially when it's a little softer than it was in July (when he ran third in the Maker's Mark Mile at the summer meet)," assistant trainer Whit Beckman said. "And historically, the horse likes firmer ground. So he showed a new dimension today, and we're happy to get him over here. It's very satisfying."
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