Lightstream ends 3-year-old season with Raven Run win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lightstream completed a terrific 3-year-old campaign Saturday with a well-gauged ride from Julien Leparoux in winning the 18th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes before a sun-splashed crowd of 23,239 at Keeneland.

Away sharply from her outside post but eased off a hot early pace, Lightstream charged down the middle of the stretch to win the seven-furlong Raven Run over Malibu Stacy, a 40-1 shot.

“She broke good, but she comes from behind,” Leparoux said. “She really impressed me on the turn. When I asked her she really took off.”

Lightstream returned $6.80 as favorite in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies after finishing in 1:22.68 over a fast track. In a six-race campaign that began in early March for trainer Brian Lynch, Lightstream has registered four wins and placings in two Grade 1 races – a third in the Mother Goose and a second in the Test. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Harlan’s Holiday is owned by Up Hill Stable and Head of Plains Partners.

Lynch said before the Raven Run that Lightstream would be given 60 days off after the race regardless of the result, then be sent to the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida to prepare for her 4-year-old season.

Previously unbeaten Lucy N Ethel, the 7-2 second choice, made the early lead in the Raven Run but was done before the quarter pole, with Curlin’s Approval and Coniah taking over as the field straightened for home. Meanwhile, Lightstream was full of momentum, and her outside surge was too much for the others, with her final margin over a late-charging Malibu Stacy being 1 1/4 lengths. Coniah was another half-length back in third, with Curlin’s Approval another half-length back in fourth.

After the top four, the order was Grace’s Treasure, Southern Girl, Takrees, Covey Trace, Sophia’s Song, Bellamentary, Ma Can Do It, and Lucy N Ethel. There were no scratches.

In April, off an eye-catching career debut at Gulfstream Park, Lightstream won the Grade 3 Beaumont at Keeneland in her second start. She becomes only the second filly, after Gypsy Robin in 2012, to sweep the Beaumont and Raven Run in the same year.

For Leparoux, it was his 55th stakes victory at Keeneland, allowing him to take sole possession of second in that category after previously being tied with Jerry Bailey. Pat Day has the most with 95.

The $2 exacta (12-7) paid $276, the $1 trifecta (12-7-9) returned $2,033.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (12-7-9-8) was worth $1,712.39.

Racing resumes Sunday at Keeneland with the Grade 3 Dowager Stakes for filly-mare turf marathoners.