Venetian Harbor dominates Raven Run Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It had been more than eight months since Venetian Harbor had won a race, but the Munnings filly had at least three good excuses – Swiss Skydiver, Speech, and Gamine.

Given relief from facing the very best of her division, Venetian Harbor was dominant Saturday, holding sway after leading all the way under Manny Franco in capturing the Grade 2, $200,000 Raven Run Stakes at spectator-free Keeneland.

Venetian Harbor returned $5.20 as favorite in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies when finishing the seven-furlong distance in 1:23.03 over a fast track. Finite closed resolutely up the rail to finish a neck behind the winner and a half-length before previously unbeaten Grand Cru Classe, who edged Reagan’s Edge by a nose for third.

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Venetian Harbor was winning for the first time since a nine-length romp in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes in February on her home circuit of Southern California. Her three races in the interim all had resulted in runner-up finishes – the Grade 3 Fantasy (to Swiss Skydiver), the Grade 1 Ashland (to Speech), and the Grade 1 Test (to Gamine).

Venetian Harbor is trained by Richard Baltas and is owned by the four-way partnership of Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm, and Dominic Savides. Joe Ciaglia of Ciaglia Racing said afterward that the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, to be run here three weeks following the Raven Run on Nov. 7 at the same seven-furlong distance, will be next.

Late on a sunny and pleasant afternoon, Venetian Harbor broke like a shot to make an open lead down the backstretch and through the turn. Passing the furlong pole, her challengers were inching closer, but she held them all off under steady urging from Franco.

“I was concerned with the 2-horse because she had speed, too,” said Franco, referring to Four Graces, the 3-1 second choice. “But when I see that she didn’t break, I just decided to go on with her then. She’s happy when she’s on the lead and she showed them today.”

Four Graces, a winner in four of six prior starts, including a romp in the Grade 3 Beaumont here in July, was not a serious factor when finishing seventh. Secret Keeper, the 4-1 third choice, finished last.

The $2 exacta (5-4) paid $53.60, the $1 trifecta (5-4-9) returned $209.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-4-9-6) was worth $108.53.

The Raven Run was the penultimate stakes on the Keeneland fall-meet schedule, with the Grade 3 Dowager on Sunday being the last. No stakes will be run during the final four-day stretch (Oct. 21-24) of the 17-day fall meet. Churchill begins its fall meet Oct. 25 with the traditional Stars of Tomorrow opener.