Stage Raider is one to watch.
John Gunther's homebred half brother to Triple Crown winner Justify broke his maiden April 10 in a big way, striding away to a 10 3/4-length score in the slop at Keeneland.
Despite racing greenly in the stretch of the seven-furlong maiden special weight event under Irad Ortiz Jr., Stage Raider impressed at second asking for trainer Chad Brown. He stalked the leaders in third from the three path, ranged up into contention off the turn for home, and ducked in at the sixteenth pole when anticipating right-handed pressure—then galloped clear. The final time was 1:22.62.
The 3-year-old colt was second to the highly regarded Prevalence in his debut in a Jan. 23 in a maiden race at Gulfstream Park. Prevalence later captured an allowance race before finishing sixth last out in the April 3 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Harvard, a full brother to grade 1 winner and Coolmore stallion Classic Empire, stayed on to place in a field of 11.
Stage Raider failed to meet his reserve when the hammer fell for $950,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the sixth foal out of 2018 Broodmare of the Year Stage Magic, who has a yearling filly by Curlin and was sent back to the Hill 'n' Dale stallion for 2021.
1/2 brother to Justify, STAGE RAIDER breaks his maiden impressively in Race 11 @KeenelandRacing! pic.twitter.com/vVP3QVGG48
— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) April 10, 2021
