No one can catch Taris in Raven Run
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Speed had sputtered all day at Keeneland, but no one told that to a filly named Taris, who absolutely cruised to victory in gate-to-wire Saturday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes.
With Clinton Potts aboard, Taris won by nine lengths in 1:21.32, easily the fastest seven-furlong time of the fall meet. Based at Penn National with trainer Todd Beattie, she returned $16 with her fourth win from five career starts.
“What an amazing horse she is,” said Potts, a well-traveled veteran who began his career in 1990 and has more than 3,100 wins. “What a joy to be able to ride a horse like that.”
Taris immediately sped clear before repelling all her early challengers. Down the stretch, Thank You Marylou rallied belatedly on the far outside to be second, another 1 1/4 lengths before Sweet Whiskey. La Madrina, the 7-2 favorite in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies, had no mishap when finishing seventh.
Owned by Commonwealth New Era Racing Inc., Taris is a Kentucky-bred by Flatter. Beattie said he was unsure what might be next for a filly whose prior race, a Sept. 10 allowance win at Presque Isle Downs, resulted in a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, highest in the Raven Run field.
“We’ll absorb all this and will have to make our choice from here,” said Beattie, a 32-year training veteran with more than 1,500 career wins.
Taris was the only front-running winner over a dirt surface that clearly favored stalkers and closers throughout a 10-race card. The program included several huge payoffs, most notably the seventh race, when only three 10-cent superfecta tickets worth more than $27,000 apiece were sold.
After the top three, the order was Shayjolie, Taketheodds, Miss Behaviour, La Madrina, Bajan, Cassatt, Divided Attention, and Pirate’s Trove. Milam and Courageous Julie were early scratches.
The $2 exacta (5-2) paid $154.40, the $1 trifecta (5-2-12) returned $448.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-12-2-7) was worth $589.99.
Attendance on another cloudy, chilly afternoon was 24,257.