Raise Cain rallies to decisive Gotham upset

Mar 05, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Raise Cain came
flying after being forced to check at the conclusion of the far turn in Saturday’s
$300,000 Gotham (G3), angling wide and inhaling rivals to win by 7 1/2 lengths
over a muddy Aqueduct track. The three-year-old colt was overlooked at 23.50-1
odds following a fifth in the Jan. 21 Leonatus S. at Turfway
Park, and Jose Lezcano was up for trainer Ben Colebrook on the bay son of
Violence.

The one-mile race awarded points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis as
a Road
to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier, and Raise Cain moved to fifth on the leaderboard
with 54 points. He picked up four points finishing second in the Gun Runner
S. at Fair Grounds two starts previously.

Owned by Andrew and Rania Warren, Raise Cain improved his
overall record to 6-2-1-1 after stopping the teletimer in 1:38.09.

Raise Cain avoided the loose horse, Howgreatisnate, who
threw the jockey when stumbling gate and advanced along the backstretch to take
the lead on the far turn, continuing to play a factor through the stretch. He
closed from 11th in the early stages.

Slip Mahoney was also far back early in the 14-horse field, trailing
the field through the opening half-mile, and the last-out maiden winner came
with a late run to be second for Brad Cox at 6-1, 1 1/2 lengths better than
30-1 General Banker, who was exiting thirds in the Withers (G3) and Jerome S.
Eyeing Clover, the 3-1 favorite, was another nose back in fourth.

Next came Clear the Air, Mr. Swagger, Lugan Knight,
pacesetter Carmel Road, Radio Red, Transect, Recruiter, Uncorrelated, and Clubhouse.

Bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, Raise Cain was
purchased for $180,000 as a yearling, and he’s out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare
Lemon Belle, a half-sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unrivaled
Belle.

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, a major Kentucky Derby
qualifier awarding points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale, is a likely target for
the top three finishers in the Gotham.