Amy's Challenge ready to roll in Raven Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Amy’s Challenge has the speed to extricate herself from post 1 in the Raven Run Stakes. But then what?

“I know she’s running against some fast horses,” said Mac Robertson, who will send out the speedy Amy’s Challenge in the 20th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run on Saturday at Keeneland. “But we’re pretty fast, too, and I really like the way she’s been training here. We ought to be good to go.”

Amy’s Challenge, with Jared Loveberry to ride, is part of a deep, oversubscribed field of 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Raven Run. Among the opposition is Alter Moon, making her second start since being turned over to Chad Brown, and Moonshine Memories, a Grade 1 winner at 2.

In all, 18 were entered, with two excluded, two relegated to an also-eligibles list, and 14 in the main body.

Amy’s Challenge drew attention over the winter by staying unbeaten in winning the Jan. 20 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park. The Artie Schiller filly then was second in the Grade 3 Honeybee and third in the Grade 3 Fantasy, both at 1 1/16 miles, before fading badly when turning back to seven furlongs in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, leading Robertson to essentially start over.

Regrouped at Canterbury Park, Amy’s Challenge has raced just once, winning a turf sprint allowance as a heavy favorite in August. All the while, Robertson had the Raven Run on his agenda. The filly has had three breezes over the local surface in the last two weeks, ending with a half-mile blowout in 46.80 seconds Wednesday.

“I wanted to work her [Monday or Tuesday], but it was muddy, and the track was perfect [Wednesday] morning,” Robertson said. “I’m very happy with her.”

The Raven Run comes two weeks before the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and therefore is not expected to produce any starters for that seven-furlong race at Churchill Downs.

First post Saturday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. The Raven Run (race 9, 5:30) anchors a solid program that also includes two allowances (races 5, 8) and three maiden-specials (races 3, 4, 10). The Keeneland card leads off the only Bluegrass doubleheader of the meet, with the Vanderbilt-Kentucky football game following at 7:30 at nearby Kroger Field.