A front-running winner of the Aug. 3 Breeders’ Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, in his last out, Marlang is a 3-year-old homebred colt by Langfuhr . He had made every one of his seven career starts at Woodbine before the 1 3/16-mile Saranac, but has tasted his most success after trainer Deborah England moved him to the grass this year.
Under the handling of Richard Dos Ramos, Marlang broke alertly from post six and went straight to the front. He posted reasonable splits of :24.40, :48.44, 1:11.88 and 1:35.58 while taking a two-length lead into the stretch. Vacation and Nistle’s Crunch were the closest challengers as they came for home, but they could never close too much ground on the leader in the final furlong.
The final time on the ‘firm’ turf was 1:53.10.
“I thought I would make the lead fairly easily; he doesn’t have to be on the lead,” said Ramos, who earned his first victory at Saratoga. “I’ve had him off the pace before, and he settles. I turned to the head of the lane, and he just accelerated underneath me. I figured it would take a pretty good horse to catch him.”
Vacation held second under Edgar Prado, a length in front of Nistle’s Crunch. Going off as the favorite, Ready’s Echo was fourth in a field of six 3-year-olds.
Bred in Canada and out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Marienburg, Marlang is now 4-0-1 from eight lifetime starts. He broke his maiden in May while making his turf debut and six weeks later won the Charlie Barley Stakes going a mile. The bay colt captured the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Stakes by nearly three lengths.
“I was a little concerned because he never shipped before and he heard the races over at the stakes barn,” England said. “I was worried about him settling down. I think he will get better at shipping as he gets older. He has gotten better at everything. I’m not sure what his next will be. This is the only horse I have with Mr. Schickedanz, who is 80 years old.”
Schickedanz also campaigned Marlang’s sire Langfuhr, who won the 1996 Forego (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Going off as the 5-2 second choice, Marlang paid $7, $3.80 and $2.80. The exacta (6-1) returned $50, while the trifecta (6-1-3) was worth $135.50.
Thou Swell was fifth, followed by Shive’s Success. Scratched were Schopenhaur and Mr Maccool, who finished third Aug. 30 in the Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park.
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