Regal Ransom could try Kelso following easy allowance win

Godolphin Stable's REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) is likely to return to

graded stakes competition after winning Wednesday's

4TH race at Saratoga, an

allowance/optional claiming affair going at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, by 3

1/4 lengths in wire-to-wire fashion. Jockey Alan Garcia guided the 4-5 favorite

to a final time of 1:49 1/5 on the fast main track.

A winner of the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) and Super Derby (G2) in 2009, Regal

Ransom went on the shelf following an eighth-place run in the Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1) in early November. He ran fourth in his return effort, the Suburban

H. (G2) at Belmont Park on July 3.

"We thought the comeback spot was a good place to run, but the one turn mile

and an eighth clearly makes it tough on a horse like him," said Rick Mettee,

assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. "In a race like (Wednesday's), you can

steal away a length or two just on the turn."

Mettee was pleased with the way the way Regal Ransom settled on the lead in

the $62,000 event and added that the colt could make his next start in the Kelso

H. (G2) on the main track at Belmont on October 3.

"He had his ears pricked out of the gate, and I thought he relaxed a lot

better than he did first time out," Mettee said. "He's a fast little horse, so

he's always going to take a little bit of a pull. It was good that he was able

to get in a small field without a lot of pace in there because he's been in some

tough spots, so it's good for him to win a race again."

Grade 2 winner Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft) finished second in Wednesday's race,

with Grade 3 scorer Atoned (Repent) another 11 3/4 lengths back in third. Grade

2 victor Timber Reserve (Forest Camp), returning in this spot off a third in the

May 15 William Donald Schaefer S. (G3), was pulled up on the backstretch and

vanned off.