By Bloodhorse.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. ( Sept. 7, 2015) — Reddam Racing’s California-bred Ralis shipped into Saratoga Race Course and pulled an upset victory over favored Magna Light in the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) for 2-year-olds Sept. 7.
A home-bred son of Square Eddie trained by Doug O’Neill, Ralis and jockey Javier Castellano stalked the early pace set by 2-1 favorite Magna Light before making a strong move at the quarter pole. With steady urging from his jockey, Ralis took over at the furlong marker and won going away, with the final margin 5 3/4 lengths. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.34.
The victory was the second in five starts for Ralis, who broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park in his second outing and was coming off a second in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar previous to the Hopeful. Ralis, who has earned $268,989, paid $15.80, $6.40, and $3.70. Magna Light returned $3.80 and $2.70, with Uncle Vinny paying $2.60. Sallisaw had a troubled trip to finish fourth, followed by Tom’s Ready, Set the Trappe, and Bullet Gone Astray. Sticksstatelydued was a veterinarian scratch.
“He broke well out of the gate today,” said jockey Castellano. “I thought he was going to be a little too far back. He broke sharp from the gate. He had a great post outside to take a bit of a nice hold and to see how the race developed in the first quarter. It was a perfect trip. I’m very blessed to ride that horse.
Thinking ahead to a possible Triple Crown campaign with Ralis, Castellano said: “It’s really exciting because I don’t think I’ve won the Hopeful before in my career. I think that is the kind of horse we are looking for for next year. I’m looking forward to next year.”
The winning connections are probably familiar to most racing fans as Reddam Racing and trainer O’Neill teamed to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes, both grade I, with I’ll Have Another in 2012. The colt was scratched prior to his attempt at the elusive Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).