Trip Notes for October 20-21: Raven Run, Athenia, and Dowager

Oct. 20

Keeneland
Raven Run (race 9)

COMMENT: Shamrock Rose has blossomed in recent months with the return to synthetic footing, first romping by 10 1/4 lengths in a stakes at Presque Isle and then winning easily again in another stakes on Woodbine’s synthetic track Sept. 8. But that success may not have been so much a function of the footing as it was her ascent since she showed here she can handle dirt and graded stakes company with the upset win. She lagged back early as Blamed set a brisk pace under pressure first from Chauncey and then 9-5 favorite Moonshine Memories, started to advance going to the far turn while staying wide and in the clear, kept on with a sustained run into the lane to reel-in then-leader Blamed, rolled past and drew clear to win pretty easily. This was also a sprint (those aforementioned two big stakes wins came routing) so she has ample versatility in terms of footing and distance. Blamed, coming off five romping wins in New Mexico but making her first start in almost seven months, shot right out to the lead, set a brisk pace under some pressure, dispatched the other speed into the lane, was unable to repel the winner but kept on nicely to hold second. Take Charge Paula, a Grade 3 winner and Grade 2 placed earlier this season, set midpack early, had to steady between horses down the backstretch to lose position, moved out wide on the turn and into the lane and finished well for third. Moonshine Memories, a two-time Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old last year and coming off a third in the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga on Sept. 2, stalked the early pace, moved up to sit just behind pacesetter Blamed turning for home but came up empty thereafter.

Oct. 21

Belmont
Athenia (race 8)

COMMENT: Rymska has shown flashes of big potential for trainer Chad Brown but injuries have kept her from fulfilling that promise. She showed here, however, that when on her game she’s capable of big things as she easily won, giving Brown his third straight win in this race and fourth overall. Coming off a sharp second when beaten just a nose at Saratoga on Aug. 31, her first start in nine months, she bided her time early toward the back while saving ground as Hawksmoor set a modest pace on the inner course, remained there going to the far turn, angled out into the lane for clear sailing, surged into contention, blew past her rivals to a clear lead before being geared-down some at the line. A race like the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 2 figures on her radar. Brown already has indicated his classy filly Uni, with the same ownership, would point to that as well. New Money Honey, a Grade 1 winner last year at 3, made it an all-Brown exacta as coming off a good second in the Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine on Sept. 15 the $450,000 daughter of Medaglia d’Oro stalked the pace, remained there to the top of the lane, came with a nice run to grab the lead by midstretch, proved no match for her stablemate in the final furlong but kept on well to be a clear second. Indian Blessing was last early, advanced to be alongside New Money Honey going to the far turn and on the far turn, had to wait momentarily for room into the lane, finished decently when she found clear sailing but was no threat to the top two. Hawksmoor, a Grade 1 winner coming off a second in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel here Sept. 22, went right out to a clear early lead, set a modest pace while staying inside as Pas de Soucis applied some pressure down the backstretch and into the far turn, tried to battle back when confronted into the lane but couldn’t keep up pace when it mattered. On Leave lagged back from the start, just behind the eventual winner to her outside, was still there while well back turning for home, swung widest of all into the lane but never really mustered a run.

Keeneland
Dowager (race 8)

COMMENT: Beach Flower, moving to turf off a monster 10 1/4-length main track win here Oct. 6, handled the turf and the marathon well to finish first, only to get disqualified and placed third. The winner ended up being Vexatious, who was not interfered with. Coming off a seventh when overmatched facing males in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer at Woodbine on Sept. 15, she stalked the pace from the start as Beach Flower set a dawdling pace, improved her position turning for home, doggedly kept after Beach Flower only to fall just a neck short at the line before being awarded the win as Beach Flower was disqualified from first and placed third. English Affair, like Vexatious owned by Calumet Farm, stalked while saving ground not far behind Vexatious, moved closer on the far turn while staying inside, came with a smart run along the rail into the lane to loom a big threat but had to steady when crowded by Beach Flower, who came in. She was moved up to second with the disqualification of Beach Flower. Beach Flower went right to the lead, set a slow pace while remaining clear, gamely clung to the lead when challenged on both sides into the lane, lugged in during the stretch run to crown English Affair but kept on doggedly to get to the line first, only to be disqualified and placed third behind English Affair. Res Ipsa, the tepid 7-2 favorite, lagged back from the start, came with a decent run in the lane to close the gap but never really was a danger to the top two.