Brinkman, Ladner Return to Raven Run With Alva Starr

Brett Brinkman and Dale Ladner have yet another flashy sprinting filly in the Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland with the front-running Alva Starr . In 2021, the trainer/owner duo saddled the speedy Louisiana-bred Cilla  to a third-place finish in the Raven Run after she polished off her rivals in the Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. Alva Starr, a half sister to Cilla, scored an equally impressive victory in the Prioress last month and looks to have an even better chance at nailing the stakes double this year for Brinkman and Ladner.

A 3-year-old daughter of the late Lord Nelson, Alva Starr has crushed her rivals by a combined 15 1/2 lengths in her last two starts, beginning with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park. Facing graded company in the Prioress, the result was much of the same- a gate-to-wire romp, except this time by 8 3/4 lengths.

“Alva Starr is faster than Cilla,” said Brinkman.

Alva Starr put in her final work for the Oct. 21 $350,000 Raven Run with a half-mile breeze in :49 Oct. 15 with Tyler Gaffalione up. Gaffalione has been named on the filly for Saturday.

“I was looking for an easy :48 or :49 and let Tyler get a feel for her,” Brinkman said. “Nothing like last week.”

Alva Starr blazed five furlongs in a sparkling :58 Oct. 8 around the Lexington oval.

It will be interesting to see if any contenders decide to spar with Alva Starr early in the Raven Run, and if she can sustain her speed the extra furlong traveling seven furlongs. Lady Radler  to her outside in post 8, winner of the Goldfinch Stakes May 13 at Prairie Meadows, could likely press Alva Starr through the opening quarter.

The Cherie DeVaux-trained Vahva  poses the the biggest threat to Alva Starr on Saturday. The daughter of Gun Runner   registered a breakthrough victory in her last start when she captured the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 25. Campaigned by the large partnership of Belladonna Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, LBD Stable, Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Runnels Racing, Steve Hornstock, and Twin Brook Stables, Vahva lays claim as one of three graded winners in the field of nine sophomore fillies.

Juddmonte’s Dazzling Blue , a $500,000 yearling acquisition, aired her rivals by a combined 16 1/4 lengths in her first three starts before settling for second behind Maple Leaf Mel in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. Favored in the Prioress off that effort, the Into Mischief   filly ran an uninspiring third to Alva Starr in which she was beaten 11 1/4 lengths.