Qurbaan handles track change, repeats in Bernard Baruch

Qurbaan has now run one Bernard Baruch Handicap over both of Saratoga’s turf courses, and he’s produced the same result over both tracks.

The 6-year-old Kiaran McLaughlin trainee came through down the stretch Monday to take the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch for the second year in a row.

Due to track conditions, 2019’s edition of the Bernard Baruch was moved from the outer Mellon grass course to the Spa’s inner turf oval.

Jockey Joel Rosario saved ground throughout with Qurbaan over a soft surface. He followed while Dream Friend set fractions of :24.81, :50.91 and 1:16.22 in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Qurbaan made his move in the stretch, digging in along the rail to cross 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Sacred Life and Dream Friend, who held on for third. The son of Speightstown returned $8.20 to win.

“It was a great ride by Joel saving ground,” said McLaughlin, who’s now won six Bernard Baruch titles. “There was a lot of rain and we didn’t know how he was going to handle it, but he loved it."

Qurbaan’s victory was his first since last year’s Bernard Baruch. He’d run either second or third in six of seven starts between those two wins, including third last out July 12 in Saratoga’s Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3).

“It was great to see him win,” McLaughlin said. “We thought he was going to win a lot more races in between last year and this year, but he always tries hard. He’s very honest.”

The next target for Qurbaan is the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) on Oct. 5 at Keeneland, McLaughlin said. Race sponsor Shadwell Stable campaigns Qurbaan, who ran third in that event last year.