Ravi's Song looks strong in optional claimer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Carl Bowman has run one horse in the Breeders’ Cup, a millionaire mare named Lu Ravi who was fifth in the 2000 Distaff (now Ladies’ Classic) at Churchill Downs. Bowman doesn’t have anything to run this weekend in the Breeders’ Cup, but he will start the week with something to remind himself of that rare opportunity a decade ago.

Bowman will saddle Ravi’s Song, a gray daughter of Lu Ravi, in the nominal feature on a 10-race Wednesday card at Churchill. Ravi’s Song, with Miguel Mena to ride, likely will come favored in the high-level allowance/optional $80,000 claimer when making her first start since she was no factor as an odds-on favorite in the Grade 3 Gardenia at Ellis Park in August.

“The heat index was something like 110 degrees that day, and she ended up having heat stroke,” Bowman said. “She didn’t fall down, but she was very much in distress.”

Bowman, a trainer since 1978, said he backed off on Ravi’s Song in subsequent weeks and has been very pleased since he returned her to more serious training. The 4-year-old filly shows five local workouts since mid-September.

“If she runs like I think she will Wednesday, we’ll run back in the Falls City” Handicap at Churchill on Nov. 25, Bowman said.

Ravi’s Song has shown considerable potential in some prior efforts, including an allowance score on the Kentucky Oaks undercard six months ago and a victory in a minor stakes at Indiana Downs in July.

Ravi’s Song, by Unbridled’s Song, is one of six fillies and mares in the fourth race, a $54,000 allowance governed by a number of conditions and an $80,000 claiming option. The 1 1/16-mile race also will have Striking Dancer, with Julien Leparoux to ride, as one of the wagering favorites, with Unforgotten, an earner of more than $600,000, perhaps the third choice.

One other allowance is carded for later in the day. It’s a $50,000 turf route for 3-year-olds and up eligible under first-level conditions. Senor Dehere, trained by Graham Motion, and Longboarder, trained by Michael Matz, look like the ones to beat in an overflow cast. Fourteen are entered, but only 10 can start.

The Wednesday card is the only one this week here without a stakes race. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.