Rashaan didn't arrive in the United States until his 7-year-old campaign in 2019. On Thursday, he proved to his connections that he was worth the wait, leading a six-horse field out of the final hurdles and fending off stablemate Redicean's stretch-drive push to win the Grade 1, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase in the card's opener at Saratoga Race Course.
Making just his fourth North American start, Rashaan won his first graded stakes and first since shipping from his native Ireland last year, posting a two-length score in the 2 3/8-mile race over the firm inner turf course.
Pravalaguna led the field and was still in command heading over the ninth and final hurdle with Rashaan tracking close in second under jockey Thomas Garner. Into the flat portion of the race, Rashaan overtook the pacesetter and was set down entering the stretch.
Straightening for home, Redicean, also trained by Young, made a bid to Rashaan's inside, but Garner kept his charge alert and they dueled in the final sixteenth before drawing away, posting a final time of 4:34.20.
“The plan was to be handy with him,” Garner said. “He's a horse that's not easy at all. He has all the ability in the world, but it's only on his terms. Training him at home, if he doesn't want to train in the morning, he won't go anywhere. He's a real tricky one.
“The team did a great job with him,” he added. “I ride him every day. He's a happy horse and he really enjoyed his work. I came here hopeful rather than confident, I actually thought the better horse was Redicean and I'd made the wrong choice but he put his best foot forward. He's got so much ability and when he wants to do it, there's not a lot that will get by him.”
Owned by Bruton Street-US, Rashaan was a 13-time winner in Europe in a career that started in 2015. Trained by Leslie Young, he did not finish his first start in the country in the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle on October 19 at Far Hills before running back seven days later to finish fifth in the Grade 2 David L. Ferguson Memorial Hurdle.
Off an eight-month break, Rashaan earned his first North American blacktype by running third in the Grade 3 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle on June 13 at Glenwood Park At Middleburg before earning a trip to the winner's circle in his Saratoga debut.
“Rashaan has all of the ability. He's won 13 races in Ireland and he was bred by the Aga Khan and is related well to serious flat horses,” Young said. “He had been training very well. We had a horse win last week and they all worked very well, but he was doing it very easily. I thought if he could just do this in a race without overthinking it.
Off at 8-1, Rashaan returned $18 on $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $358,687.
His stablemate, Redicean, was fourth in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 23 at Saratoga but finished 3 ¾ lengths clear of 8-5 Moscato for second. That marked Redicean's best finish in six starts, with his previous win coming at the Spa in last year's Jonathan Kiser Novice.
“Redicean had also been training very well and last time when he ran in the A.P. we got a little bit excited, and I think he likes to go on a little longer,” Young said. “We were hopeful going in today and we're happy it worked out.”
Gibralfaro, 8-5 favorite and defending New York Turf Writers Cup-winner Optimus Prime and Pravalaguna completed the order of finish. Belisarius and Zanjabeel scratched.
Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga with a nine-race card that includes the Grade 1, $85,000 Skidmore for 2-year-olds in Race 3 going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at 2:20 p.m. First post is 1:10 p.m.
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