Already a four-time graded stakes winner, Eddie Woods training grad Raging Sea annexed the $250,000 Beldame S. (G2) Oct. 6 at Belmont at the Big A to set the 4-year-old filly up for a run in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) next month at Del Mar.

As the prohibitive favorite in the nine-furlong Beldame, Raging Sea sat several lengths off the early pace, biding her time until the moment came to make her run. That time came about three furlongs from home, when Raging Sea came three-wide into the stretch to take aim on the leader Batucada. She took over the lead outside the furlong marker, but Batucada made a race of it, battling all the way to the wire, with Raging Sea winning by a head in 1:50.41 over a fast track.

“She’s a late-running horse and takes a little bit to get in gear out of the gate, but Flavien [Prat] knows her so well and that was a tough foe down on the inside that fought back and made for a closer finish than we thought,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “That said, I chose this race because I thought there was a possibility she might bounce a bit off her last effort--it was just such a strong run up at Saratoga to run down a super horse (Idiomatic) and I thought she’d feel that race in her next one. So, I thought I’d maybe pick an easier spot for her.”

Owned by her breeder Alpha Delta Stables LLC, Raging Sea has earned $1,198,478 and is 7-1-1 in 12 starts. Her previous graded wins came in the Personal Ensign (G1), Doubledogdare S. (G2), Shuvee S. (G2) and Comely S. (G3).