Raging Sea Looks to Defend Her Top Older Mare Status in the Ogden Phipps

The daughter of Curlin comes off a victory in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs and now faces another tough challenge, this time at Saratoga

Raging Sea winning the La Troienne Stakes just a few weeks ago / CHURCHILL DOWNS

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- Alpha Delta Stables aims to keep adding glory with their filly Raging Sea, who, after establishing herself as a genuine giant-killer, now stands as the one to beat this Friday in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1, $500,000), contested over 9 furlongs for fillies and mares 4 years and older during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. The race grants a direct berth to the November Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, the Curlin filly comes off a strong victory, rallying powerfully to win by three-quarters of a length in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 2. That was her return to the races after six months, where she left behind top names like Horse of the Year champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and stablemate Randomized (Nyquist), who will also compete in the Ogden Phipps.

After finishing fourth in last year’s edition of this same race, Raging Sea, to be ridden by Flavien Prat, has strung together three consecutive graded stakes wins at this distance, including a notable triumph over 2023-24 Champion Older Female Idiomatic (Curlin) in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), also run at Saratoga.

“Raging Sea has shown admirable consistency from season to season. She’s at her best right now,” Brown said.

Closing out her 2024 campaign, the chestnut was second behind Thorpedo Anna in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). In that race, Randomized finished second in 2023 behind Idiomatic.

Randomized (Joel Rosario), representing Klaravich Stables, was third in the La Troienne, narrowly beaten by Taxed(Collected), who set the pace from the start. Though outfinished late by Raging Sea, her trainer expects improvement.

“She usually needs a race to get fit year after year. This time, she should advance significantly with that preparation,” Brown noted.

In her second start after a layoff, Randomized was the gutsy winner of the 2023 Ogden Phipps, edging out Idiomatic by a neck. Using similar front-running tactics, she also took the Alabama Stakes (G1) and Wilton Stakes, both at Saratoga. Her last outing without leading early was the Personal Ensign, where she finished fourth behind Raging Sea, Idiomatic, and Soul of an Angel (Atreides).

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will saddle two other G1 winners, Leslie’s Rose (Into Mischief) and Candied (Candy Ride), both seeking their fourth Ogden Phipps victory following the wins of Ashado (Saint Ballado, 2005), Life At Ten (Malibu Moon, 2010), and Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon, 2011).