Thirteen 3-year-old fillies were entered Wednesday morning for the fifth running of the grade III, $150,000-added Raven Run, to be run at seven furlongs on Friday, Oct. 10. Contention runs deep as several of the entrants are already graded winners.
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider‚s Yell has faced grade I company in her last five starts. Winner of the Davona Dale (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park earlier this year, the daughter of A.P. Indy was a fast-closing fourth to Harmony Lodge in the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga most recently. Trainer Shug McGaughey only ships to Keeneland when he expects to win and has hired Pat Day to pilot his charge.
New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable will be represented by Ebony Breeze. Winner of the Florida Oaks (gr. III) and Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) this year, the daughter of Belong to Me finished third behind fellow entrant Country Romance in the Victory Ride at Saratoga in her last trip to the post. Trainer Bill Mott will give a leg-up to Cornelio Velasquez, who was aboard for her Azalea victory.
Trainer Greg Foley's hopes are pinned on Golden Marlin. Rested during the summer, the daughter of Marlin was a nine-length winner of an allowance race at Turfway Park in her comeback effort. Rafael Bejarano will ride the filly, who won the Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs last spring. She is owned by Bill Glass and the Estate of Joe Famularo.
Overbrook Farm's Country Romance returns to a sprint after an unsuccessful route experiment in the Turfway Park Breeders' Cup. Winner of the Victory Ride at Saratoga, the Saint Ballado filly will be saddled by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey Robby Albarado has the call.
Entries for the Oct. 10 Raven Run Stake at Keeneland. For 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the dirt. Purse $150,000.
Horse, jockey (weight), trainer
1--Country Romance, Robby Albarado (120), D. Wayne Lukas
2--Westerly Breeze, Jon COURT (123), Carl Nafzger
3--Halory Leigh, Craig Perret (117), Dale Romans
4--My Trusty Cat, T.J. Thompson (120), David Vance
5--Valid Pulpit, John McKee (123), Edward Frederick
6--Molta Vita, Mark Guidry (117), Dallas Stewart
7--Tina Bull, Corey Lanerie (117), Steve Asmussen
8--Hippogator, Rene Douglas (117), Jerry Hollendorfer
9--Yell, Pat Day (123), Shug McGaughey
10--Ebony Breeze, Cornelio Velasquez (123), William Mott
11--Golden Marlin, Rafael Bejarano (123), Greg Foley
12--Holiday Runner, Clinton Potts (120), Tim Ritchey
13--Fabulous Brush, Shane Sellers (120), Patrick Daly
