Raise Cain – Kentucky Derby Context

Raise Cain stamped his Kentucky Derby ticket in March’s Gotham (G3) over a one-turn mile, overcoming trouble to win going away by 7 1/2 lengths over a muddy Aqueduct track, but the late runner hasn’t displayed the same gusto in a pair of two-turn starts, finishing a non-threatening second in December’s Gun Runner S. and a well-beaten fifth in the Blue Grass (G1). Raise Cain will face a tall challenge trying to close from off the pace in the Kentucky Derby.

Owner: Raise Cain is the first graded stakes winner for Andrew and Rania Warren, who have campaigned horses for about four years. Andrew’s parents, William and Suzanne Warren, raced 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam and 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light. The Warrens also owned Denis of Cork, third in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

Trainer: A former assistant to Belmont-winning trainer Christophe Clement, Ben Colebrook went out on his own in 2012. He’s making his first Kentucky Derby appearance.

Jockey: Decision pending, will be updated when announced.

Breeders/Sales: Bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, Raise Cain was purchased for $180,000 as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. Codee Guffey serves as managing partner for Rock Ridge, which was established in 2013 and is based in Versailles, Kentucky, and Raise Cain will be the initial Kentucky Derby starter as a breeder.

Sire: A Grade 1-winning juvenile, Violence was on the 2013 Kentucky Derby trail before having his racing career halted by injury. Raise Cain is from his sixth crop, and Violence will also be represented by champion two-year-old male Forte, who will bring a five-race graded stakes-winning streak to the Kentucky Derby. Violence’s first three Grade 1 winners, Dr. Schivel, No Parole, and Volatile, were all sprinters, but he’s changing his reputation as a sire. By 2002 Belmont runner-up and top sire Medaglia d’Oro, best known as the sire of 2009 Horse of Year and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, Violence stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Paris, Kentucky.

Dam: Raise Cain is the first stakes winner from Lemon Belle, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid. She’s out of the multiple Grade 2-winning Queenie Belle, who is also the dam of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unrivaled Belle, who in turn produced 2017 champion female sprinter and 2018 champion older dirt female Unique Bella. Lemon Drop Kid, the champion older horse of 2000 and winner of the 1999 Belmont and Travers (G1), is seeking to make an impact upon the Triple Crown as a broodmare sire. His best offspring include 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and 2017 Broodmare of the Year Lemons Forever.

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