The Grade 2, $400,000-dollar Raven Run Stakes is Saturday at Keeneland. The seven-furlong sprint features a deep and talented field of twelve 3-year-old fillies.
Here is a brief look at the field:
1. ARMY’S MARAUDER [ML 30-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Christopher Davis. Comes off a Maiden win in a modest final time. Seems a big ask to step up and face this field.
2. MYTHICAL [ML 12-1] Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Jorge Delgado. She would be easier to like if the race was at Gulfstream Park, where she has four Stakes wins. Was 2nd her last time out, in the Prioress Stakes at Saratoga– albeit five lengths behind blowout winner MASHALLAH.
3. HEN PARTY [ML 20-1] Jockey: Rafael Bejarano. Trainer: Eoin Harty. Was 3rd in the aforementioned Prioress Stakes, six lengths behind, in her first start on dirt. Might benefit from a fast pace.
4. COCO CONNECT [ML 50-1] Jockey: Edgar Morales. Trainer: John Ennis. Last time in a dirt Stakes, she was 4th by 8 ¼ lengths in the Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland in the spring. Her comeback race at Kentucky Downs on turf was mundane at best.
5. YO FANCY [ML 30-1] Jockey: Cristian Torres. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. Ran 3rd in an Allowance in her third start. Has late speed but would need to take a big step forward here.
6. PERCY’S BAR [ML 6-1] Jockey; Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Ben Colebrook. Won the 1 1/16-mile Ashland Stakes here in the spring and last year won the Darley Alcibiades Stakes over this surface but was disqualified and placed 2nd. She rallied for 2nd in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga but then flopped on turf in a Kentucky Downs sprint Stakes. If she duplicates her effort in the Test, she can be a main threat. Getting Ortiz is a major upgrade.
7. A FINE CHARDONNAY [ML 12-1] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Ian Wilkes. Won the Beaumont in the spring, though it was on a muddy track. Hasn’t won since but has placed in Stakes company twice and could land in the exotics at a nice price.
8. CONCEIT [ML 4-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Brad Cox. Has won her last three starts- the most recent win came in the Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs, beating the highly regarded EXPLORA.
9. MASHALLAH [ML 8-5] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Brendan Walsh. Comes off a five-length win in the Prioress and has four wins in five career starts. Cannot be ignored, though she will be part of the early pace and could face a lot of pressure on the front end.
10. WITH A KISS [ML 20-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Returned last month after an 11-month layoff after her debut win and beat older rivals in an Allowance race at Saratoga. Faces tough company here, but she is capable hands and if she improves off that race, she should be in the money.
11. MOVIE NIGHT [ML 9-2] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Will Walden. Ran 3rd, only a neck behind, in the Dogwood. Tired badly in the Test before that, but that was her only poor effort in five career starts. Gets Prat here and if he can harness her speed from an outside post, she might work out a great trip.
12. STAR ACTRESS [ML 30-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. Was 3rd in the Ashland and missed by a neck in a 6 ½-furlong Saratoga Allowance sprint last time out. There are things to like, but she seems better suited for a two-turn race.
The Raven Run Stakes is slated as race 9 on a card of 10 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:15.
Best of luck however you play it.
