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Rising Legend rises to the top in Oceanside

Rising Legend lived up to his name in the second division of the Oceanside (Benoit Photos)

Hronis Racing's Rising Legend hadn't been seen in competition since a half-length second behind Den's Legacy in last November's Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park, but on Wednesday the John Sadler pupil made a winning three-year-old bow in the second division of the $112,500 Oceanside.

With jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, the chestnut came flying down the center of the track to score by a head over an equally powerful rallier in Gabriel Charles. Rising Legend paid $17.60, $7.80 and $5.20 as the 7-1 sixth pick in the nine-sophomore field and completed a mile over the firm Del Mar turf in 1:33 4/5.

Both Rising Legend and Gabriel Charles bided their time in the back of the group as Olympic Blue gunned for the front when the gates opened. It didn't take long for expected pacesetter Rosengold to wrest away command on the outside and pull off to a small advantage through splits of :23 2/5, :47 1/5 and 1:10 2/5. Rounding the turn, the Tsunami Slew victor appeared headed for a fourth straight stakes win despite the continued pressure from Olympic Blue.

Unfortunately for the Stormello colt, Rising Legend was just beginning his move. The chestnut swung widest of all heading into the stretch with Gabriel Charles hot on his hooves, and maintained his outside run even when Olympic Blue drifted toward the grandstand. Gabriel Charles was forced to abruptly angle in when Olympic Blue came out, and that might have cost him the narrow win as Rising Legend just held for the close decision.

"He's a nice horse. And he's got a great, late kick. Just what you want from a turf horse," Leparoux said. "He hasn't been out in a while, too, so that makes this race even more impressive. Like I said, he's a nice horse."

"Aw, man. They handcuffed me on the turn and it probably cost me (the race)," groused jockey Mike Smith, who had piloting duties aboard Gabriel Charles.

"They shifted out on the turn (for home), like they usually do here. But then they usually shift back in. I was waiting for that to happen and it didn't happen fast enough. I ducked him down inside and he really came running. He ran brilliantly. A big race for him. And he'll like it plenty good when they go farther."

Olympic Blue, the 47-1 longshot, just got his neck in front on the wire to take third over Rosengold. Si Sage, 2-1 favorite Den's Legacy, Joelito, Show Some Magic and Saint Prado completed the order of finish.

Rising Legend was making only his second U.S. start in the Oceanside following last year's Generous second. Prior to shipping stateside the Rock of Gibraltar colt captured a pair of races in England. He placed in his other four races overseas, and improved his line to 8-3-3-2 with Wednesday's victory while boosting his lifetime earnings to $112,476.

Bred England by Cheveley Park Stud, Rising Legend sold for $43,030 as a Tattersalls December weanling. He competed overseas out of Richard Hannon's shedrow, and was an also-eligible for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November.

"We were a little unlucky in the first (Oceanside division when Greeley Awesome ran second). But (Leparoux) is a really good rider and he got the bob in this half, so it kind of made up for the first," Sadler remarked.

"We bought (Rising Legend) last year. We were going to run him in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he didn't get in. He came out of his (Generous) race with a little heat in his ankle, so we turned him out with the idea of bringing him back for a summer campaign."

Rising Legend is out of the Miswaki mare Miswaki Belle, making him a half-brother to English, Irish and Italian highweight Danehurst, Group 3 victress Humouresque and multiple Group 2-placed Mighty. Miswaki Belle is herself a half-sister to Group 2 heroine Dazzle, Group 1-placed listed scorer Baschar and listed diva Hypnotize, who is better known as the dam of European champion Hooray.

Rising Legend's third dam is Grade 1 runner-up Sophisticated Girl, who found fame in the breeding shed when producing Grade 2-winning sire Doneraile Court. Another of her offspring, Group 1-placed Dancing Tribute, would also gain recognition after foaling Grade/Group 2 winners Souvenir Copy and Dance Sequence; stakes winner Dance With Grace, dam of Grade 1-placed winners Setsuko and Indy Dancer; and Grade 1-placed Gold Tribute.

Rising Legend's fourth dam, the Dunce mare Close Control, is the granddam of multiple Grade 1 queen Excellent Meeting and Grade 1 victor Early Pioneer.

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