Saratoga Maidens, presented by KeenelandBaliage (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) didn't have the smoothest of trips into the first turn, and gamely fought back when challenged inside the final furlong to break her maiden at the Spa with 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors.Racing in cover as 12-1 longshot May December (McKinzie) and 18-1 longshot Into Forever (Into Mischief) posted an opening quarter in :24.06 and a half-mile in :50.28, Baliage started her rally as they swung through the final bend, and was the looming danger after six panels in 1:15.98.Closing well via the overland route, she met resistance in the form of the experienced Mel Went Home (Life Is Good), who refused to go down without a fight and matched strides with the Chad Brown-trainee into the final yards. Baliage raced greenly in the stretch, but was kept to her task to graduate. The final time was 1:46.25.Baliage is Kingman's 39th 'Rising Star, his second of 2026, and his third in North America. Two of those three Stateside runners debuted at Saratoga.The victress is out of owner/breeder Peter Brant's Grade I winner Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who won the 2021 running of Keeneland's GI First Lady Stakes to claim her elite-level black type. Trainer Chad Brown also conditioned the dam.O-Peter Brant; B-White Birch Farm SC (IRE); T-Chad Brown. ‍ bears down and defeats MEL WENT HOME in R6 at Saratoga for @jockeyfranco and trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/DdyBWJJUL3— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 14, 2026The post Kingman’s Baliage Green, but Talented, in Spa ‘Rising Star’ Graduation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.