NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Rice Racing’s Ramming Speed is set to try Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong main track test for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.
The son of Flashback arrives after breaking his maiden for trainer Kevin Rice on July 3 at Presque Isle Downs going 4 1/2 furlongs. The 2-year-old gelding drew off under Gaddiel Martinez to win by 4 1/4 lengths, following a hard-fought second in his first time out on June 14 over same distance and course.
“Ramming Speed has been training good. That last race was more like a breeze, he won handily. It’s time to try the dirt,” said Rice. “I think he’s going to like the dirt.”
The bay is coming back quickly, just 10 days since his victory. Rice said he liked the recent effort and believes it was good preparation for Saturday.
“My rider said he had a lot of horse,” Rice said. “He settled him in behind those horses and made him wait. As soon as he asked him to move out, he went ahead and went on with it, had to be reeled back in to just be galloped out.”
Rice looks to capture his first stakes win at Saratoga after 10 previous attempts. Ramming Speed will be his third starter in the Sanford, after attempts in 2014 [Less Than Perfect, 6th] and 2015 [Save the Drama, 9th].
“We’ve tried a couple stakes, it was a learning experience,” Rice said. “My horses have been really running good this year. I just won with a 2-year-old at Belmont last week [She’s Fire] and it’d be nice to keep the momentum going. I’ve got a nice group of young horses.”
Martinez retains the mount from post 6.
