A full field of 14 3-year-old fillies, most of which are stakes winners, have been entered in the Oct. 21 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland. The fiercest competitor in the $300,000 contest appears to be My Lucky Free, who has been perfect in her last three starts. The daughter of
Mazel Trick prepped for the Raven Run with a victory in Blue Sparkler Stakes Stakes at Monmouth Park, before which she won the Regret at the same track in August.
The Raven Run, contested at seven furlongs over the new Polytrack surface, is the ninth race on the card on the third Saturday of Keeneland's fall meet, which runs through Oct. 28. With the exception of the aforementioned My Lucky Free and another dual stakes winner, Vestrey Lady, who will tote co-top weight of 119 pounds, the other 12 fillies will be evenly weighted at 117 pounds.
My Lucky Free, who ran second in last year's Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park will making her first start at Keeneland. Trained by Cam Gambolati and owned by Runnin Cardinal Stable and C. E. Glasscock, she has won five of nine starts for career earnings of $218,883.
Vestrey Lady is another notable contender in the race, as she has already proved her liking for Polytrack, having won the La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine Sept. 23 in her last start. Bred in Kentucky, the daughter of
Vicar has raced the majority of her starts at the Ontario, Canada track, where she also won the Duchess Stakes in August. She has earned $254,789 in 10 starts for owner and Canada Jockey Club president Dick Bonnycastle, who races the filly in the name of his Harlequin Ranches near Calgary, Canada. Vestrey Lady is trained by 2005 Sovereign award winner trainer Reade Baker.
Another to watch for is the Richter Family Trust's Jazzy Okie, who is seeking to win her fourth consecutive added-money contest. The Raven Run would be the richest victory for the Oklahoma-bred daughter of King of Scat, who has scored in lower level stakes contests at Fort Pierre, Prairie Meadows, and Remington Park. Trained by Kelly Von Hemel, she has earned $236,245 in 15 starts.
Looking for a comeback is 2005 Illinois Horse of the Year Original Spin, who has not won since capturing the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie Stakes (gr. III) more than a year ago. The only graded stakes victor in the field, Original Spin, owned by Russell L. Reineman Stable and trained by Anthony Mitchell, ran second in this year's Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 5.
Rounding out the field are Morner, who is stakes-placed on Turfway Park's Polytrack; Chandelle No. Five; Starry Pie; Leah's Secret; Capote's Crown; Cherokee Jewel; Lake Alice; Ex Caelis; Sabatini; and Windy.
Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II), $300,000, Keeneland, Oct. 21, 3-year-old fillies, seven furlongs, approx. post 5:15 p.m. EDTPP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Lake Alice, 117, Kyle Kaenel
2. Cherokee Jewel, 117, Shaun Bridgmohan
3. Capote's Crown, 117, Christopher DeCarlo
4. Windy, 117, Rafael Befarano
5. Vestrey Lady, 119, James McAleney
6. Leah's Secret, 117, Mark Guidry
7. Sabatini, 117, Julien Leparoux
8. Starry Pie, 117, M. Clifton Berry
9. My Lucky Free, 119, Joe Bravo
10. Morner, 117, Robby Albarado
11. Original Spin, Jesse Campbell
12. Ex Caelis, 117, Corey Lanerie
13. Chandelle No. Five, 117, Eddie Castro
14. Jazzy Okie, 117, Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
