Saratoga Maidens, presented by KeenelandHis morning works said he'd have the foot to take the lead, and Dargham (Army Mule) did just that to lead a well-bred field of Saratoga rivals gate-to-wire on the closing Labor Day card.The Linda Rice charge had been consistently posting noteworthy breezes since arriving at the venue in early July, and his final two tune ups over the main track Aug. 19 and Aug. 30 told the betting public everything they needed to know. The former was a five-panel breeze in 1:02.34 (4/7) that was topped by Rescue Dawn (Jackie's Warrior), who broke her maiden earlier on the card for trainer Mike Maker, and the latter a four-furlong work in :47.82 (7/127)–this tab was topped by GI Hopeful Stakes runner Midnight Still (Curlin).Leaving the blocks as the 5-2 favorite here, Dargham found himself with a lot of room to his outside when I'm America (Constitution) stumbled badly and he quickly took advantage of the open air to motor into the lead heading up the backstretch. Posting an opening quarter in :22.50 and four panels in :46.06, he never looked anything but comfortable as he sailed off the bend with a clear advantage. Opening up eagerly as the eye-catching Hullabaloo Ray Ray (Jackie's Warrior) tried to cut into the margin, Dargham posted a confident 2 1/4-length victory over the 9-1 late closer.The final time was 1:10.21.“Well, we're super excited [for this colt],” said Poe Racing Stable's Bryan Poe, speaking on behalf of the IEE Racing, Winning Move Stable, Poe Racing Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford H. Robbins LLC partnership in an interview on Saratoga Live.“We've had this horse since [bloodstock agency Thorostock] picked him out as a yearling. Took him through [OBS March] on a pinhook, stayed in, got [the rest of the partners] in, and we're just thrilled that he blew the doors off today.”Four of the five co-owners (the exception being Poe Racing Stable) also campaign dominant Seeking the Ante Stakes victress Velora (Yaupon), who is being reported as pointing toward the GI Frizette Stakes at the new Belmont Park. and jockey @RSantana_Jr took the lead right from the gate and impressively wins on debut.Trainer @LindaRiceRacing looks stacked with 2-year-olds this year! pic.twitter.com/my0R0XHdHz— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 7, 2026The victor is the third winner to the races for his dam. He was a $95,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Thorostock last year that turned into a $500,000 OBS March 2-year-old this past spring after breezing a furlong in :9 4/5. Dargham is the most recent to come of age but does have a pair of sisters in the wings–a yearling Flameaway and a 2026 full-sibling. Jeanne's Speight, herself a full to SW Going to Kukaro–mother of SP Praise and Honor (Honor Code), was bred to Arthur's Rise for 2027.In addition to the aforementioned whole sibling, the broodmare also claims Ten K Cat (Tale of the Cat) as a half-sister. That mare, too, is the dam of a stakes runner, namely SP Show Off (Lookin At Lucky). The group hails from the female line of GISW Jeanne Jones (Nijinsky II), whose daughters and granddaughters–one of whom being MGSW & GISP Roman Treasure (Roman Ruler)–have expanded her legacy into several successful branches. Of those most notable, they have yielded the likes of GSW & GISP Great Stuff (Quality Road) and GSW Coffee in Bed (Curlin) as well as GSW Life of Joy (Gun Runner) and GSP Beau Liam (Liam's Map).7th-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 9-7, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.21, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.DARGHAM (c, 2, Army Mule–Jeanne's Speight, by Speightstown) Sales history: $95,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $500,000 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.O-IEE Racing, Winning Move Stable, Poe Racing Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford H. Robbins LLC; B-Amaroo Farm, LLC & Autrey Bloodstock (KY); T-Linda Rice. The post Army Mule’s Dargham Much Too Good for Saratoga Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.