Saratoga: Raging Sea defends Shuvee title against 6 rivals

Raging Sea will look to secure her seventh career graded stakes win in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee, a nine-furlong route for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Curlin chestnut stalked and pounced to a 2 1/2-length score in last year’s Shuvee to kick off a three-race win streak traveling nine furlongs that included wins in the local Personal Ensign (G1) in August and the Beldame (G2) in October at Belmont at the Big A.

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Raging Sea completed her campaign with a runner-up effort to horse of the year Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

The popular chestnut returned to action in May with a three-quarter length score in the La Troienne (G1) going 1 1/16 miles over fast dirt at Churchill Downs.

“That was terrific,” Brown said of the La Troienne effort. “She came off a layoff and ran super. She's in great form right now and training really well.”

Raging Sea enters from a troubled third in the nine-furlong Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes racing festival. She was squeezed at the start and spotted the field three lengths while forced to track from last of six. She made a five-wide run down the lane to pick up show honors, landing 6 1/ -lengths back of the victorious Dorth Vader, who is entered in the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth Park.

“Last time, on that wet track, it was speed favoring, and it didn't really set up for her,” Brown said. “If there's some speed in the race and hopefully we catch a drier track, that would be great.”

The well-bred Raging Sea has banked more than $2.2 million through a 15: 8-2-2 record. Her second dam is the graded stakes-winning Seeking the Gold mare Welcome Surprise, a half-sister to Hall of Famer A.P. Indy.

Brown, who also won this event with Paid Up Subscriber in 2017 and Royal Flag in 2021, also will send out the lightly raced Prides Crossing, who makes her stakes debut for owner OXO Equine.

The 4-year-old Quality Road bay will look for her first win since her maiden-breaking debut last May at Churchill Downs when in the care of trainer Paulo Lobo. She made one start for Will Walden before joining Brown for her last three outings, which include a neck second last out in a nine-furlong optional-claimer over muddy and sealed footing May 15 at Belmont at the Big A.

“We wanted to give it a shot. We've been waiting for a spot to run her, and she's been training really well. She's a well-bred horse. It's a big step for her,” Brown said.

The $1.3 million Keeneland September yearling sale purchase is out of the winning Galileo mare Key To My Heart, while her second dam is 2010 Grade 1 Frizette winner A Z Warrior.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Leslie’s Rose as he looks to secure a standalone record sixth Shuvee score. His past Shuvee winners include Awesome Maria in 2011, Authenticity in 2013, Stopchargingmaria in 2015, Curalina in 2016 and Nest in 2023. Pletcher currently shares the Shuvee record of five wins with the late Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens.

Leslie’s Rose was eased last out in the Ogden Phipps. The 4-year-old Into Mischief bay made the grade in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland (G1) in April 2024 at Keeneland, defeating 2023 champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I by three lengths.

She completed her sophomore season with a trio of nine-furlong efforts in Grade 1 races won by Thorpedo Anna, including an off-the-board effort over sloppy and sealed footing in the Kentucky Oaks in May at Churchill Downs and with two Spa tries when a 5 1/2-length second in the Acorn last June and a pacesetting fourth in the Coaching Club American Oaks last July.

Leslie’s Rose entered the Phipps from a neck third in a key renewal of the 6 1/2-furlong Vagrancy  (G3) in May at Belmont at the Big A won by Haulin Ice, who was a neck better than R Disaster. Haulin Ice exited that event to win the Musical Romance Handicap at Gulfstream Park, and R Disaster subsequently romped in the Rehoboth at Delaware Park.