With a perfect four-for-four record at Monmouth Park, Raging Daoust can easily be labeled a “horse for the course.”  In Saturday’s Opening Day Decathlon Stakes, he will put his unblemished record on the line when he breaks from post six and gets reunited with jockey Victor Santiago, who’s been aboard for all four Monmouth wins.
            “We’ve gotten very lucky with him,” said Charles “Buddy” Carlesimo, who conditions Raging Daoust for owners J. Costabile and R. Juliano.  “He’s a very talented horse that’s been very good to us.”

            Very good, indeed!  On June 12, 2012 Raging Daoust’s owners plunked down $10,000, plus sales tax, to claim the then 3-year-old gelding from a winning effort here.  The son of Kafwain went on to win three-straight at Monmouth, before trying the $300,000 Gallant Bob at Parx, finishing just five lengths behind eventual champion sprinter Trinniberg.

            But all that was 2012.  Now a 4-year-old, Raging Daoust has just two starts in 2013, including a victory in his last on Feb. 17 at Parx going a mile.

            “I wanted to try him long,” Carlesimo said.  “I knew he could handle it, I just wanted to see him do it.  After that race we decided to give him time off and get ready for here.  He’s had a couple of good works and has been training well.  Our goal right now is the Salvator Mile ($150,000 Grade 3 on July 6).”