Al Khali charged into the lead rounding the far turn and went on to a 1¼-length victory over El Crespo Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course in the 102nd running of the Grade 3, $107,000 Saranac Stakes.

A bay son of Medaglia d’Oro, Al Khali was reserved in fifth, several lengths behind fractions of 23.54, 48.13 and 1:11.92 set by favored Sal the Barber, then came widest of all approaching the quarter pole to take command in the stretch and hold off the late rally from El Crespo.

His winning time for the 1 3/16th miles was 1:53.00 over a firm turf course.

“I wanted to keep my horse close and keep Sal the Barber honest, and everything did work out very well,” said winning jockey Kent Desormeaux. “My horse was behind the field in reserve, and when presented, he took off with a beautiful turn of foot.”

The victory was the first since March for Al Khali, who won an allowance at Gulfstream Park in his first start in the United States after racing in Peru. Third to Courageous Cat and Sal the Barber in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes here on August 14, Al Khali earned $64,200 as he extended his record to 4-2-1 from 10 lifetime starts.

He returned $5.40 for a $2 win bet as the second choice in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

“He accelerated nicely today,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who trains Al Khali for Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable. “It looked like he accelerated nicely in his last race, but he had a bit of traffic trouble.”

Completing the order of finish behind El Crespo were Armstrong Mill, Reservoir, Sal the Barber, Uncle T Seven, and Blank Check. Lime Rickey was scratched.