Betting Keeneland’s Raven Run Stakes: Who to use, who to toss

Ahead of Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,00 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, handicapper Brandon Stauble offered his thoughts on one horse to use in your bets — and one to toss — from the field of 11. The Raven Run is set for a 5:30 p.m. ET post time.

USE: #11 Miss Sunset

She loves to win and is now ready for her first graded stakes test. Two starts ago, trainer Jeff Bonde decided to ditch the blinkers, and this filly has shown the ability to relax better in her races. The margin of her last victory doesn’t look like much but if you go back and watch the replay she could have extended the lead at any point. That race was also against older fillies and mares. Saturday, she is back in against her own age group. Miss Sunset also drew a great stalking post and adds the services of perennial top Keeneland jockey Julien Leparoux. Let’s hope for 5-1!

TOSS: #4 Nonna Mela

She likes to be forwardly placed and drew poorly for the Raven Run. With other speed signed on in the race, including the aforementioned Miss Sunset, Nonna Mela will have to be used early in order to avoid being shuffled back. She also has shown that she needs time in between races, which signals to me that races take a lot out of her. Which filly will we get Saturday? It’s without question she will try hard, but Nonna Mela has a lot going against her, and as a gambler this is an opportunity to toss a short-priced Todd Pletcher trainee.

Good luck!

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