Raven Run Stakes 2022: Odds, free PPs for Keeneland feature

As Keeneland prepares to host the 2022 Breeders’ Cup in two weeks, the Lexington, Ky., track continues its October meet Saturday with a graded stakes for filly sprinters.

Smash Ticket (5-2) is morning-line favorite for the Grade 2, $350,000 Raven Run Stakes. Post time from Keeneland is 5:16 p.m., with FanDuel TV to broadcast the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

Click here for Keeneland entries and results.

Smash Ticket garnered morning-line favoritism off the strength of a 3-for-3 record during her 3-year-old season. Her Weather Vane Stakes score Sept. 24 at Pimlico followed allowance scores in July at Saratoga and in May at Lone Star.

Rob Atras trains the Midnight Lute filly Smash Ticket, who will have jockey Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Atras has not won a graded-stakes race outside of New York, while Carmouche’s last graded win at Keeneland came in the 2011 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2).

Wicked Halo (4-1) also enters on a three-race winning streak for trainer Steve Asmussen, capped by a Prioress Stakes (G2) triumph Sept. 2 at Saratoga. She has won five of her nine lifetime starts, including a pair of Churchill Downs stakes scores before the Prioress.

Fingal’s Cave (4-1) has done one better than the three-race win streaks of Smash Ticket and Wicked Halo, having won all four of her lifetime starts. She aims to make the grade Saturday for trainer David Donk after winning the Fleet Indian Stakes on Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

Union Lake (6-1) crossed third in the Prioress for trainer John Terranova II after winning a Saratoga allowance race in July. The Jeremiah Englehart-trained Freedom Speaks (6-1) followed a Saratoga allowance score by winning the Music City Stakes on Sept. 13 at Kentucky Downs. Midnight Stroll (10-1), another Terranova entry, took the Delaware Oaks (G3) before running third Aug. 26 in the Charles Town Oaks (G3).

Here is a look at the field for the 2022 Raven Run Stakes field (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Union Lake (John Terranova II, John Velazquez), 6-1

2. Smash Ticket (Rob Atras, Kendrick Carmouche), 5-2

3. Republique (Saffie Joseph Jr., Julien Leparoux), 15-1

4. Last Leaf (Eddie Kenneally, Martin Garcia), 12-1

5. Fingal’s Cave (David Donk, Joel Rosario), 4-1

6. Colorful Mischief (Todd Pletcher, Gerardo Corrales), 12-1

7. Freedom Speaks (Jeremiah Englehart, Florent Geroux), 6-1

8. Wicked Halo (Steve Asmussen, Tyler Gaffalione), 4-1

9. Midnight Stroll (John Terranova II, Luis Saez), 10-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show favorite Smash Ticket getting an early lead under Carmouche and setting a fast pace, followed by Union Lake.

For more information on the Raven Run and some of Saturday’s other biggest stakes races, visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page.

Other Saturday stakes

Here is a look at other stakes races of note taking place Saturday across North America. All post times are EDT.

1:42 p.m. – $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3), 3-and-up fillies and mares, one mile (turf), Aqueduct, FS2

Plum Ali (8-5), a Grade 2 winner for trainer Christophe Clement, tries to snap a four-race winless streak. Jockey Manny Franco will ride the 4-year-old First Samurai filly, runner-up Sept. 10 at Pimlico in the All Along Stakes. Clement also trains Messidor (2-1), who looks to make a stakes breakthrough after beating allowance foes July 27 at Saratoga. Evvie Jets (3-1) finished second in Aqueduct’s Athenia Stakes (G3) on Sept. 24 for trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci.

3:40 p.m. – $250,000 Perryville Stakes, 3-year-olds, seven furlongs, Keeneland, FanDuel TV

Gunite (6-5), a Grade 1 hero for trainer Steve Asmussen, looks for back-to-back stakes scores after winning Churchill Downs’ Harrods Creek Stakes by three lengths Sept. 24. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will climb aboard the Gun Runner colt. Artorius (5-2) cuts back three furlongs worth of distance for trainer Chad Brown after running sixth Aug. 27 in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Of a Revolution (5-1) was runner-up Sept. 24 at Parx in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

3:48 p.m. – $300,000 Hill Prince Stakes (G2), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles (turf), Aqueduct, FS2

Celestial City (7-2) won last out Sept. 24 at Aqueduct going 1 1/16 miles over the lawn and adds a half-furlong of distance here while attempting to earn a first stakes win. Trainer Shug McGaughey has tabbed jockey Jose Lezcano to pilot the Uncle Mo colt. McGaughey also trains Limited Liability (4-1), third-place finisher Sept. 6 at Colonial Downs in the Virginia Derby (G3). Stakes winner Mackinnon (9-2) debuts for trainer Chad Brown after finishing sixth Sept. 3 in the Del Mar Derby (G2) when running for Doug O’Neill’s barn.

5 p.m. – $150,000 Maryland Million Classic Stakes, 3-and-up, 1 1/8 miles, Laurel Park, FanDuel TV

Ournationonparade (5-2), a Laurel Park stakes winner, starts Saturday for trainer Jamie Ness after winning a Churchill Downs claiming race Sept. 28 for trainer Chris Hartman. Jockey Jaime Rodriguez will be up on the 5-year-old Cal Nation gelding. Norman Cash trains Double Crown (9-2), a Gulfstream Park stakes victor who was second Sept. 24 at Pimlico in the Polynesian Stakes. Laurel stakes hero Vance Scholars (9-2) finished third Oct. 1 in the local Japan Turf Cup Stakes.

5:05 p.m. – $150,000 (about U.S. $110,000) Ontario Matron Stakes (G3), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles (all-weather track), Woodbine, FanDuel TV

Dreaming of Drew (3-1) has made all 11 of her prior starts at Woodbine and runs to make the grade after crossing fourth Sept. 17 in the local Seaway Stakes (G3). Jockey Kazushi Kimura will get a leg up on the 4-year-old Speightster filly for trainer Barbara Minshall. Mark Casse trains Our Flash Drive (7-2), a double Grade 3 heroine who was fifth Aug. 27 at Saratoga in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2). Broadway Lady (4-1) steps up in class off a local allowance score Sept. 11 for Casse.