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Abraaj gets up late in Vanderbilt Shadwell Stable's ABRAAJ (Carson City) earned his first stakes victory with a late rally in Saturday's $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2), closing with a rush to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee completed six furlongs in 1:10 1/5 over Saratoga's fast track and has now earned $338,050 from a 13-5-4-2 line. Sent off the 8-5 favorite over five rivals with Alan Garcia aboard, Abraaj rated off the pace in fourth as pacesetter Sammarco set fractions of :22, :44 2/5 and :56 4/5. The five-year-old horse was under a ride down the backstretch and appeared to be in trouble on the far turn, but he finally settled into stride upon reaching the stretch drive and mowed down his rivals in the final furlong. He paid $5.40, $3.10 and $2.40. "I don't know why he wasn't running smooth early," Garcia commented. "When I started riding him (in the stretch), he finally started to get going. Then, he just kept going and ran very, very good." First Defence (Unbridled's Song) garnered runner-up honors by 1 1/2 lengths at 3-1 and returned $4.10 and $3. Sammarco held third by a nose as the 21-1 long shot and gave back $5.10. The exacta totaled $20.60, and the 5-2-4 trifecta was $135. Thor's Echo (Swiss Yodeler), Black Seventeen (Is It True) and E Z Warrior (Exploit) rounded out the order of finish. Unbeaten Grade 1 winner Bustin Stones (City Zip) was scratched. Bred in Kentucky by Kidder, Griggs and Mamakos, Abraaj was purchased for $450,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Out of the winning Kris's Intention (Kris S.), he's a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Leelanau (Carson City), stakes victor All Trumps (Grand Slam), an unnamed yearling colt by Mr. Greeley and a 2008 filly by Mr. Greeley. Abraaj was unplaced when making his stakes debut in last year's Vanderbilt but entered this year's edition off a close third to leading sprinter Benny the Bull (Lucky Lionel) in the True North H. (G2), his second lifetime stakes attempt. By finally taking this event, Abraaj has earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) on October 25 at Santa Anita. McLaughlin said the bay horse could return later in the meet in the Forego S. (G1) on August 30.
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