Trip Notes for October 22-23: Raven Run, Athenia, Dowager

Oct. 22

Keeneland
Raven Run (race 9)
COMMENT: Lightstream has been knocking heads with the division’s best, having finished third in the Grade 1 Mother Goose and second in the Grade 1 Test. A slight drop did the trick here. The daughter of Harlan’s Holiday bided her time early as Lucy N Ethel set a hot pace under pressure from Curlin’s Approval and Coniah. Lightstream remained toward the back to the far turn, rallied very wide into the lane, and powered home to grab the lead inside the final furlong and draw away. Malibu Stacy faded to ninth in a turf stakes at Belmont Sept. 9, and appreciated the return to dirt. She sat midpack, came with a threatening run into the lane, and stayed on to get second. Coniah, a winner over elders in an optional claimer at Belmont Sept. 29, pressed Lucy N Ethel and Curlin’s Approval through strong splits, got the better of those two coming into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and couldn’t finish with the first two. Southern Girl, stepping up after winning four of her first five starts, including the Shine Again at Laurel last time out, got knocked around at the start to be last early. She was still well back turning for home, made a nice run to pass a number of foes coming into the lane, and finished evenly. Lucy N Ethel, unbeaten in four starts including the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream and the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga, caved in once headed and finished last.

Oct. 23

Belmont
Athenia (race 8)
COMMENT: Roca Rojo looks like a comer for trainer Chad Brown. She relished the soft turf to make it three wins in four U.S. starts after starting her career in Ireland. She bided her time early on the inner course, listed as soft, as All in Fun set a modest pace under pressure from Means Well. Roca Rojo remained midpack to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, grabbed the lead before midstretch, and opened up to win easily. While she relished the footing she won impressively on firm turf in her U.S. debut. Stormy Victoria was third in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel here Sept. 24 behind Brown-trained Mrs McDougal and Zindaya, and she was again foiled by a Brown runner. She was just behind Roca Rojo, tried to move with that foe into the stretch while a few lanes inside her, and kept on for second. Mexican Gold, another Brown runner, pitched wide to make her run and lost second in the final strides. Strike Charmer, the 3-1 favorite off a win over Lady Eli in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga and a fourth to her in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl here Oct. 8, was last early and still well back on the turn. She swung very wide and plugged along well in the stretch.

Keeneland
Dowager (race 8)
COMMENT: Elektrum had been holding her own with the West’s best turf distaffers, and this change of venue and move to a longer trip helped get her her first win since taking the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar over 14 months ago. As is her custom she had no speed early, remained well back to the far turn, angled out to make her run into the lane, and closed with a flourish to nip European raider Apple Betty on the line. Apple Betty, third in a French Group 3 and fourth in a German Group 2 in her last two starts, stalked the pace, had to steady turning for home, got back in stride, accelerated strongly to grab the lead, opened up in midstretch and got pipped on the line. She was well clear of the others. Swear by It was well back turning for home, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished decently for third.