Bar of Gold lukewarm favorite in Raven Run
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As the calendar pages dwindle to a precious few, so too do races limited to 3-year-olds, which explains why a very competitive field of 3-year-old fillies will go seven furlongs Saturday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland.
Bar of Gold, with Jose Lezcano to ride, is the lukewarm program favorite in a field of 11 that also includes the unrestricted stakes winners Irish Jasper, Miss Ella, and Sarah Sis. And then there are those who keep hinting at their stakes potential, including Ahh Chocolate, Forever Unbridled, Kathballu, and the uncoupled Al Stall Jr. duo of Paid Up Subscriber and Chide.
Clearly, there will be many options from which fans can choose, although many will settle on Bar of Gold for no other reason than that she comes off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Saratoga graded stakes behind Cavorting, the possible favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here Oct. 31.
“You take Cavorting out of the equation and our filly’s form looks pretty good,” said trainer John Kimmel. “We’re looking for her to run her race Saturday.”
Another of the top contenders for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, Taris, won this race last year, romping by nine lengths in a record 1:21.32.
First post Saturday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the Raven Run set for 5:30 as the ninth of 10 races. The card also features two outstanding allowances: Race 7 matches the impressive 2-year-old maiden winners Gun Runner, Rafting, and Bandwidth around two turns, while Race 8 drew the stakes-caliber filly-and-mare turf runners I’m Already Sexy, Eden Prairie, and Emotional Kitten.
The forecast calls for more beautiful weather and a high of 55.
A five-day race week ends here Sunday with the Grade 3 Dowager for older fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Raven Run, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Bar of Gold (Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-85)
◗ Lezcano will be looking to work out a good stalking trip from post 2 for a filly who persevered through a difficult journey in the Prioress last month when beaten three lengths by Cavorting; for all her big efforts, this New York-bred filly is still seeking her first stakes victory.
Irish Jasper (Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-89)
◗ Six-time winner has accounted for four stakes, all for her previous trainer, Derek Ryan; now makes her second start in the care of Chad Brown when looking to rebound off a no-factor run in the Prioress.
Miss Ella (Last 3 Beyers: 84-92-75)
◗ Graham Motion-trained filly who won the Grade 2 Beaumont here in the spring will be ridden by the red-hot Trevor McCarthy, who makes his first Keeneland appearance after riding five winners Wednesday at Delaware Park.
Ahh Chocolate (Last 3 Beyers: 82-68-79)
◗ Stoneway homebred looked terrific in dusting lighter allowance opposition last month at Churchill Downs, convincing trainer Neil Howard that another shot at a graded stakes was warranted.
Chide (Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-79)
◗ Both she and her Stall-trained stablemate Paid Up Subscriber have flashed their talents in getting through preliminary allowance conditions and giving respectable efforts in their limited stakes engagements.