Saratoga Maidens, presented by KeenelandThe final strides called for heart and that's exactly what Grand Yaupon (Yaupon) showed as Belzoni (Gun Runner) came calling in the final sixteenth, but was turned away on the line.The Steve Asmussen-trainee was unveiled June 12 at Churchill Downs against a field that included Balloteer (Early Voting), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for that victory, and the highly-regarded Flightline firster Greenwell, who held off Midnight Still (Curlin) by a nose for third. The latter runner would be a next-out winner at this venue July 11. Grand Yaupon finished a well-beaten fourth against that group.Made the 2-1 favorite in this competitive second jump, the son of Yaupon had to recover from a stiff round of bumper cars early but was never far from the scramble for the lead as Foolin (Practical Joke) kept him company near the front. In command passing the three-sixteenths, Grand Yaupon had to fight off a first challenge to his inside turning for home and then had to brace for the oncoming rush of Belzoni in the later stages. Locking horns for the final yards, the colts battled to the wire with Grand Yaupon winning the photo by a head.The victor is the second winner from three to race for the dam, whose first successful offspring was SW Happymayleidy (Runhappy). Media Circus, a half to the dam of SW & MGSP West Omaha (West Coast), has a yearling colt by Taiba to her credit. She was bred to Raging Torrent for 2027. This is the female line of GSW Call Now (Wild Again), making it the immediate family of GISW Tapizar (Tapit).3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-25, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.69, ft, head.GRAND YAUPON (c, 2, Yaupon–Media Circus, by Mineshaft) Sales history: $560,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $69,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.O-Estate of Mike McCarty; B-Thomas S. Hinkle, Henry L. Hinkle & Robert B. Kessinger (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.The post Yaupon’s Grand Yaupon Holds On to Deny Belzoni at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.