Sacristy (4) with Kent Desormeaux.
by Joe Kristufek, America's Best Racing.
Saturday’s Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland is for 3-year-olds whose aspirations fall short of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). Fourteen fillies are on the program for what is a super-contentious seven-furlong race on the synthetic Polytrack surface.
The winner of the locally run Beaumont Stakes (G2) in April, the 3-1 morning line favorite Gypsy Robin was most recently seen finishing second behind the super-talented Contested in the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. She’s trained forwardly since, but in a race this wide open, it’s tough to hang your hat on the probable public choice.
Placed in four graded stakes this season, Via Villaggio also has a touch of class. Most of her recent races have come around two turns, but the last time she was entered to compete at seven furlongs, Via Villaggio won the Railbird Stakes (G3) at Hollywood. Her Jerry Hollendorfer-trained stablemate Killer Graces has a similar profile. She too has kept some fantastic company in routes, and has the ability to unleash a strong stretch kick when cutting back in distance.
With several pace-pressing types entered to a run on a Keeneland track that has been more kind to finishers, the race could very well fall to a longshot closer.
A hard charging third two back in a grass route in what was the stronger division of the Hatoof stakes at Arlington Park, Drama Drama returned to score an out-of-the-clouds victory in a first-level turf allowance at Kentucky Downs. She owns a strong finishing punch, and the price will be right.
Second in the Beaumont, Sacristy has had some ups and downs in her young career, but her recent victory at Arlington was visually impressive, and she’s trained sharply since.
Highly regarded as a 2-year-old, Sweet Cat’s claim to fame is a third place run in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2). She’s won just once from five starts this season, but may be in line for an advantageous, pocket trip from the rail post.
My selections:
Drama Drama
Sacristy
Via Villaggio
Gypsy Robin
$250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2)
Keeneland Race Course, Saturday, Race 9, 5:27 p.m. EDT
3-year-old fillies, seven furlongs (All Weather Track)
|
PP |
Horse |
Jockey |
Weight |
Trainer |
|
1 |
Sweet Cat (KY) |
J.R. Leparoux |
118 |
T A Pletcher |
|
2 |
Assateague (KY) |
J. Rocco Jr. |
118 |
M R Matz |
|
3 |
La Tia (IL) |
J.L. Castanon |
120 |
B Williamson |
|
4 |
Lotta Lovin (PA) |
R. Napravnik |
118 |
M J Maker |
|
5 |
Yankee Union (KY) |
B.J. Hernandez Jr. |
118 |
T Drury Jr. |
|
6 |
Killer Graces (KY) |
S. Bridgmohan |
118 |
J. Hollendorfer |
|
7 |
Anna Sophia (KY) |
V. Lebron |
118 |
W I Mott |
|
8 |
Drama Drama (KY) |
J.K. Court |
118 |
V H Oliver |
|
9 |
Flashy Lassie (KY) |
C.J. Lanerie |
118 |
G W Simms |
|
10 |
Via Villaggio (KY) |
M.A. Pedroza |
118 |
J Hollendorfer |
|
11 |
Gypsy Robin (KY) |
J.R. Velazquez |
120 |
W A Ward |
|
12 |
Monono (KY) |
L.R. Goncalves |
118 |
M Lovell |
|
13 |
Mercy Lou (PA) |
C. Villasana |
118 |
G S Bennett |
|
14 |
Sacristy (KY) |
M. Mena |
118 |
W M Catalano |
