$350,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) on October 22 at Keeneland may not have been drawn Echo Zulu next in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on November 5, but it drew most of the other 3-year-old sprinters in the aftermath.
Even without last year’s 2-year-old defending champion, Saturday’s race was high quality, attracting winners Ticket Smash , The last leaf , Fingal Cave , Sparks of Freedom, Evil Halo and Walking at midnight . Rated Runners Lake Union and Colorful naughty and three-time winner Republique complete the nine-horse formation.
Alifyfe Racing’s undefeated Fingal Cave, daughter of Carpe Diem , set off from New York to run the Raven Run, which is restricted to sophomores. She was one of four participants in the transport into Keeneland after recording their last workout at Belmont Park.
“At some point we’re going to challenge her and this seems like a good point,” said coach David Donk.
Fingal’s Cave, 4v4, won the limited-stakes Indian Fleet against the New York-breed competition on her first try on August 26 at Racecourse Saratoga. Even though that race ran at 1 1/8 mile, she was versatile, scoring two stunning wins in sprints at Belmont Park before she won twice at Saratoga.
“We looked at Cotillion (G1) and decided not to go, which was a good move because the race gets tough on a complex track,” said Donk. “I’m not sure what her best distance is. She’s sprinted really well in her first two starts and she’s been training really well over the past few weeks.”
The film will mark Donk’s first Keeneland start since April 2015, when King Kreesa ranked sixth in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T).
Fingal’s Cave could give him a second bet win here to go ahead with the win by opening the raw in the Bets (G3T) in 1996. Donk has three overall wins at Keeneland from 16 catches. head.
Joel Rosario rides.
Wicked Halo, the hybrid of Winchell Thoroughbreds, the Prioress Stakes (G2) winner at Saratoga in her most recent warm-up on September 2, is the highest performer of all Raven Run entrants. . She scratched from Dogwood Stakes (G3) on September 24 at Churchill Downs due to the presence of her steady friend Echo Zulu in the entries. Echo Zulu scores with ease.
“I chose not to pit them against each other,” Asmussen said.
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He pointed out a question mark to her and Gunite , who he ran at Perryville Stakes on Saturday, simply did not race at Keeneland. Both have paid locally for their stake commitments.
“Happy with the way you’re both doing,” he said.
Asmussen usually puts his better horses in Churchill Downs when they are in Kentucky but brought a senior team to train at Keeneland this fall with assistant Scott Blasi to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup.
Tyler Gaffalione rides the Wicked Halo.
Smash Ticket, perfect in three starts this year and 4 for 6 overall, is another contender. She possesses some of the highest speed stats among the participants but has yet to race beyond six stretches.
Coach Rob Atras trains owners Brad King, Stan and Suzanne Kirby, and Barbara Coleman.
Racer Kendrick Carmouche from New York joined the race.
Item: Lexus Raven Run S. (G2)
KeenelandSaturday, October 22, 2022, Race No. 9
- Level II
- 7f
- Dust
- $350,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 5:16 pm (local)
