Justify 's talented younger brother, Stage Raider, has yet to try a stakes race in three starts, but he runs like he is soon headed to such company.
Racing May 14 in Belmont Park's eighth race, an $89,240 first-level allowance optional claimer, the 3-year-old half brother to the 2018 Triple Crown winner came through a narrow stretch opening and pulled clear for a hand-ridden three-length victory over Civil War. The John Gunther-owned- and -bred Pioneerof the Nile colt raced a mile on a fast track in 1:38.22 under Eric Cancel and returned just $2.10 for a win wager as the overwhelming favorite.
Tucked along the rail in fourth down the backstretch and on the turn, three lengths off the pace, he was in need of racing room before finding it inside of the leader, Purple Hearted, about three-sixteenths before the finish, as that one tired to settle for third in the five-horse field.
Friday's race was the longest in Stage Raider's three-race career for trainer Chad Brown. Second in his debut Jan. 23 when racing seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park, Stage Raider graduated from the maiden ranks by 10 3/4 length in another seven-furlong contest over a sloppy track at Keeneland April 10.
"We know he's a talented horse, but he's still an immature 3-year-old and has some idiosyncrasies about him. He's a horse with immense ability that we'll continue to work with and improve upon. He'll get better with age," assistant trainer Dan Stupp told Belmont Park publicity.
ICMYI 👀 Stage Raider the half brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify had a solid ride in the 8th with @Ericcancel18 for @TheRealChadCBr1 #BelmontPark pic.twitter.com/BhzJFWB6AI
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) May 14, 2021
Bred in Kentucky, Stage Raider is related to three other winners besides Justify, including All American Stakes (G3) winner The Lieutenant. His dam, the Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, was the 2018 Broodmare of the Year. The most recent of her seven foals is a Curlin yearling filly.
Gunther raced Stage Raider after he fell short of his reserve when bidding stalled at $950,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when part of his owner's Glennwood Farm consignment.
