SARATOGA SPRINGS – Even Blazing Fury’s trainer, Jimmy Toner, knew his 3-year-old gelding was up against it in yesterday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac Handicap at a mile-and-three-sixteenths over the Mellon turf course.

The son of Dynaformer had run just four times, with only a maiden victory and a second in an allowance race, and he was taking on experienced grass runners, including multiple stakes winners Proud Man and Strategic Partner, in his stakes debut.

But in midstretch Blazing Fury came like a rocket past the pack to win the Saranac by 4 3/4 lengths, going away to give young jockey Javier Castellano in first stakes win at the Spa.

“I was reaching a bit,” said Toner, who was using this race to set Blazing Fury up for the 1 1/2-mile Lawrence Realization back at Belmont. “I thought he’d finish well, but I didn’t expect him to run like that.

“He did explode. He just galloped by them.”

Blazing Fury paid $15.50 topping a $191 exacta with 12-1 Fast City second and 44-1 Rapid Ryan third. Proud Man ran fourth as the 9-5 choice.