Ralis Rallies to Hopeful Win

The Hopeful Stakes (G-1) was billed as a rematch between Uncle Vinny and Magna Light, the top two finishers in the Sanford Stakes.  Somebody forgot to tell the California invader, Ralis.

Magna Light jumped out to an early lead, galloping ahead of the field by a measured length through a quarter in 22.79 and a half mile in 45.46. Set the Trappe, Ralis, and Sallislaw tracked him, while Uncle Vinny struggled at the back of the pack. 

Around the far turn, jockey Javier Castellano kicked Ralis into gear and the duo took aim on the pacesetter.  Ralis rallied and for a moment, it looked like he and Magna Light would duel to the wire after getting six furlongs in 1:09.62. However, Ralis was just saying goodbye.  He passed the floundering Magna Light and pulled ahead to victory by 5 ¾ lengths, getting the seven furlongs in  1:22.30. Magna Light checked in a clear second by three lengths, while Uncle Vinny, who was wide for much of the race, struggled up to gain third place, 2 ¼ lengths over Salisaw. Sticksstatelydude was scratched.

Discussing his ride, Castellano remarked, "He broke well out of the gate today. 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."

Castellano has been a regular in the Saratoga winners circle this meet. He won the Woodward, Whitney, Alabama Stakes, Travers, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and Ballston Spa. The Hopeful Stakes was the top jock’s third victory of the day. He won the Bernard Baruch Handicap in record-setting time before riding in the Hopeful.

"I feel great. I'm very thankful,” he said about his victories. “A lot of people have given me a lot of support to be thankfully the No. 1 jockey in Grade 1's here in Saratoga. It's a good record and I'm proud to be participating at the best track in the country. I have a lot of support: my agent, my trainers and the owners."

Trained by Doug O’Neil, Ralis is owned by Reddam Racing. Going off at odds of 6-1, the homebred colt rewarded his backers with $15.80, $6.40, $3.70. Magna Light paid $3.80 and $2.70 for second, while Uncle Vinny returned $2.60 for third. The $2 exacta paid $69.00, the $2 trifecta was $162.50 and the $2 superfecta returned $551.00. Ralis has a 5-2-1-0 ($268,989) race record.

Previously, Ralis (Square Eddie - Silar Rules, by Ten Most Wanted) placed second in the Graduation Stakes to his stablemate MRAZEK beaten 3 ¼ lengths over a speed favoring Del Mar track.  

By a son of Smart Strike, Ralis has a fairly modest distaff family and this is clearly a case of class skipping a generation. While Ralis’ dam failed to win in five starts, his second dam MORNING MEADOW is a Grade 3 winning sprinter who spent her career in the Midwest.  She is the most accomplished runner in three generations of the distaff family. 

Ralis should have no difficulty stretching out to 1 1/16 miles of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The colt has a variety of options. He could stay in New York for the Champagne Stakes, return to California for the Frontrunner Stakes, or take a detour to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Futurity.