Andrew and Rania Warren’s Raise Cain, who began 2023 on a trail that led to the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve, returned to sprinting Saturday and delivered a thrilling head victory in the Perryville (L) over favored Dr. Venkman. 

Raise Cain made seven of his nine starts this year in graded stakes company with the highlight being a 7½-length win in the one-turn, 1-mile Gotham (G3) in March. Prior to the Perryville, he finished fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Oklahoma Derby (G3) on Sept. 24, beaten only a length. 

“I think that was the icing on the cake for this year,” trainer Ben Colebrook said about the Perryville. “He has had a long year and deserves a break.” 

Dr. Venkman, trained by Mark Glatt, is scheduled to return to Santa Anita with the $300,000 Malibu (G1) at 7 furlongs on Dec. 26 slated as a possible target.