Lost Raven set for turf debut in Coronation Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are eight 3-year-old fillies entered in Monday’s $100,000 Coronation Cup at Saratoga and one key question when it comes to handicapping the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash: Will Lost Raven take to the grass?

Lost Raven has won four of nine career starts, including a victory in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness in May at Pimlico. But she’s never been on turf, and even trainer Todd Pletcher is not sure what to expect when he sends the Mike Repole homebred postward in Monday’s main event.

“We didn’t have any other great options for her at the moment,” said Pletcher. “Uncle Mo had a good stakes winner on the turf last week at Delaware, and she’s got Elusive Quality on her bottom side, although she’s never been on the turf herself in a training situation.”

Lost Raven also will be shortening up to 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time since winning her maiden over a muddy track at Belmont by 4 3/4 lengths last fall.

“If she handles the grass, 5 1/2 furlongs should be fine,” said Pletcher.

Lost Raven is one of two fillies Pletcher will start in the Coronation Cup, along with Brinkley, already a two-time winner on grass but idle since a seventh-place finish in her stakes debut May 21.

Miss Katie Mae is also among the more-proven turf commodities in the race, having won two of her nine career starts, all of which have come on grass, including a victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Alywow Stakes at Woodbine on June 12 for trainer Graham Motion.

“I’m not crazy about shortening her up again, but cutting her back last time seemed to work, and the progeny of this stallion [Dark Angel] tend to want to be sprinters,” said Motion. “The fact Javier [Castellano] could ride her back made going in here a no-brainer, and if she can run back to her last race, she should be pretty competitive.”

The stakes winners Ava’s Kitten and Coco as in Chanel; the graded-stakes-placed Quick Release, who finished third behind Lost Raven in the Miss Preakness; J La Tache; and Tizanillusion complete the field.

Ava’s Kitten shortens up to 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time off a late-striding fourth-place finish going a mile in the Wild Applause Stakes just two weeks ago at Belmont. Ava’s Kitten is also graded-stakes-placed, having finished third, beaten less than a length by the imposing Catch a Glimpse, in the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lost Raven, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-78

◗ She reverted to her old style, showing early speed before fading to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride in her most recent start after rallying from far back to win the Miss Preakness.

Ava’s Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 82-85-86

◗ Loses Castellano to Miss Katie Mae but picks up Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode her to a fifth-place finish following an unlucky start in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks last winter at Tampa Bay Downs.