Streaking Cal-bred Om N Joy may ship to Keeneland for Raven Run

Om N Joy, unbeaten in five starts at Del Mar and Santa Anita since March, including four stakes, may race outside of California for the first time in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 18.

Trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Wednesday that Om N Joy has been nominated to the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, but that the $400,000 Raven Run Stakes has greater appeal.

The Zenyatta “looks awful tough,” she said. “It seems to make sense to stick with the 3-year-olds fillies.”

The Raven Run Stakes is run at seven furlongs.

“The timing is really nice,” Ordonez said.

The $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes is the leading race for older fillies and mares at the Santa Anita autumn meeting, which runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 26. The winner of the Zenyatta Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

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Ordonez said there has even been talk about starting Om N Joy in the BC Distaff, but that the same race in 2026 may be a more realistic option.

Om N Joy, a California-bred filly by Om, has won 5 of 12 starts and earned $401,140. The winning streak includes three stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, plus the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 30.

Om N Joy races for breeders Jerry and Connie Baker, Michael Golovko, and Terrence Scanlan.

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