Covey Trace ambitiously spotted in Raven Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There are three graded stakes winners among a field of 12 3-year-old fillies in the Raven Run Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

Two of them, Lucy N Ethel and Lightstream, figure among the favorites in a well-matched 18th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run. The other, Covey Trace, does not.

“I love it,” said Brook Smith, who co-owns Covey Trace with trainer Billy Denzik. “There are some pretty classy fillies in there. If we hit the board, I think we’ll be happy.”

Covey Trace won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks, in which Sophia’s Song, the 1-5 favorite, finished third. Making her first start since that Sept. 17 race, Covey Trace was assigned post 1 for the seven-furlong Raven Run, the ninth of 10 Saturday races. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call.

“The rail makes it tough, but if we get the trip, we’ll have the horse,” said Smith. “She’s training like never before and is completely coming into her own. Maybe we’ll run our best race and only get fourth, but our form is respectable enough. We feel like we’ve got nothing to lose.”

Lucy N Ethel (post 4, Corey Lanerie), the winner of the Grade 2 Prioress in her last start, will be putting her 4-for-4 record at risk when making her first start for trainer Tom Amoss.

Lightstream (post 12, Julien Leparoux), trained by Brian Lynch, won the Grade 3 Beaumont here in April and most recently was second to longshot winner Paola Queen in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga on Aug. 6.

From the rail, the Raven Run field is Covey Trace, Ma Can Do It, Grace’s Treasure, Lucy N Ethel, Southern Girl, Bellamentary, Malibu Stacy, Curlin’s Approval, Coniah, Sophia’s Song, Takrees, and Lightstream.

The Raven Run lost a couple of contenders when Bendable was taken out of training because of a minor splint injury and Chad Brown decided against sending Lewis Bay here from New York.

Three allowances (races 7, 8, 10) help conclude a back-loaded Saturday card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Attendance surely will be padded by thousands of college football fans making a Blue Grass doubleheader out of the day. Kentucky hosts Mississippi State at 7:30 p.m. at nearby Commonwealth Stadium.