Classy Tune among California invaders for Raven Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The crisscrossing of America by equine transports will soon begin in earnest when horses are flown to California ahead of the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

But before then, a trio of California fillies has migrated in the opposite direction to run in the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run, a seven-furlong race that anchors another terrific Saturday card at Keeneland.

Chalon, Classy Tune, and Miss Sunset all rate as prime contenders after flashing their talents on their home Southern California circuit. They’ll clash with an interesting mix of 3-year-olds from the East Coast and Kentucky in what shapes up as a very well-matched field of 11 for the 19th running of the Raven Run.

Classy Tune has had the Raven Run on her itinerary since winning back-to-back races in highly impressive fashion at Del Mar. The Maclean’s Music filly stubbed her toe when finishing third as the favorite behind Miss Sunset when she wheeled back in 15 days in a Sept. 4 restricted stakes, but trainer Simon Callaghan blamed himself more than anything for the defeat.

“She bounced last time because I ran her back too quick,” said Callaghan. “She’s doing great, and we expect a good run.”

Duly regrouped, Classy Tune has been sent through five breezes at Santa Anita and figures to appreciate the slight stretch-out when she breaks from post 9 under Florent Geroux.

She’ll be joined in outer gates by Chalon (post 8, Paco Lopez), who finished second behind the older Finley’sluckycharm here two weeks ago in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America, and Miss Sunset (post 11, Julien Leparoux), a California-bred with five stakes victories, none of them graded, from 10 career starts.

The California triumvirate will be countered by the likes of Tequilita, Overture, Nonna Mela, and Pretty City Dancer – all with plenty of stakes experience up and down the East Coast – along with Pinch Hit, an up-and-comer in the local division.

Tequilita (post 7, Feargal Lynch) has won three stakes, each at a different track, including the Grade 2 Forward Gal at Gulfstream in February and the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Sept. 23. Her career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 84 was earned when finishing third behind American Gal in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga.

Overture (post 2, Jose Ortiz), trained by Bill Mott, was third behind Tequilita in the Charles Town Oaks and will be making her first start around one turn since early May. Ortiz, based primarily in New York, has ridden sparingly at Keeneland this fall but certainly made his mark here Wednesday when riding three winners.

Nonna Mela (post 4, Chris DeCarlo), from the powerhouse Todd Pletcher stable, won the Grade 2 Adirondack at 2 and most recently was second in the Grade 2 Prioress at Belmont Park. Pletcher won the 2010 Raven Run with Hilda’s Passion when the race was still run on Polytrack.

Pretty City Dancer (post 6, Corey Lanerie) dead-heated for the win in the Grade 1 Spinaway as a 2-year-old and was second to Tequilita in the Forward Gal in her sophomore debut but has struggled mightily since. Trainer Mark Casse tried her on turf in August, to no avail, and now she’s back on her preferred surface at an ideal distance following six interim works.

Pinch Hit (post 3, Jon Court) comes off a breakthrough victory in the Sept. 23 Dogwood at Churchill Downs after twice running for claiming prices this year.

“She can win here because she’s doing great,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It wouldn’t be the strangest thing in the world. She really started to thrive this summer. The Dogwood was a quality race, and in my opinion it should be graded again.”

Rounding out the Raven Run cast are Yorkiepoo Princess (post 1, Edwin Gonzalez), second at 75-1 in the Charles Town Oaks; Happy Mesa (post 5, Jimmy Graham), making just her second start on dirt after 10 races over turf; and Torrent (post 10, Ricardo Santana Jr.), turning back in distance after running fifth in the Remington Oaks.

First post Saturday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:30 as the ninth of 10 races. Three allowances (races 3, 4, and 8) also are on tap. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 76.

The Sunday feature is the Grade 3 Dowager, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares. The 17-day fall meet runs through Oct. 28.