Raven Run J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A full field of 14 three-year-old fillies is set for Saturday's $250,000

Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland and we considered going many different ways in

this wide-open event before landing on MUCH REJOICING (Distorted Humor), who

returns to the track where she ran so well last spring.

Trained by Jimmy Toner, Much Rejoicing captured her career bow on dirt at

Gulfstream Park and made her second start in a tough allowance test at Keeneland

on April 3. Runner-up Buckleupbuttercup (Najran) went on to post a 6 1/4-length

score in the Eight Belles S. (G3) in her next outing and third-placer Dynazaper

(Ghostzapper) followed with a victory in the grassy Edgewood S., but neither

filly was any match for Much Rejoicing, who registered a whopping 103 BRIS Speed

rating for her convincing 3 1/2-length decision. That was arguably a more

difficult field than she will face on Saturday, and the chestnut filly has

trained forwardly in preparation for this start, drilling a five-furlong bullet

in :59 4/5 at Belmont nine days ago.

Much Rejoicing didn't move forward off the allowance tally, finishing a

disappointing 10th as the 5-1 third choice in the Acorn S. (G1), and headed to

the sidelines for nearly four months, re-appearing with a fourth versus

allowance rivals at Woodbine last time. That tightener was strictly a prep for

the Raven Run, and we expect her to return to form over a Polytrack surface that

she clearly relishes. The prospect of a nice price (12-1 morning line) is

another benefit, so we'll take a flier on her.

RED HOT BUDDHA (Buddha) was no match for the likes of Dubai Majesty (Essence

of Dubai) and Informed Decision (Monarchos) in the Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3)

last time, but she takes a serious class drop in this spot and must be

respected. A four-time winner this year, the gray lass likes all-weather tracks

and owns very respectable BRIS numbers. She also gets blinkers on for Tom Amoss,

who wins at a 27-percent clip when adding the hood.

CHANTILLY NAYLA (Five Star Day) has run well over the local Polytrack,

posting an easy victory over starter allowance rivals last fall and a second in

the Beaumont S. (G2) in April, and the bay miss prepped for this event with a

solid third in the Duchess S. at Woodbine. This will be her fourth start with

top Midwestern conditioner Wayne Catalano and we'll look for a strong showing

from off the pace.

KATY NOW (Tiznow) rolled to a two-length maiden win when trying the Polytrack

last fall, but she's raced exclusively on dirt this season and exits a dull

fourth as the favorite in the Victory Ride S. (G3). The Todd Pletcher runner is

eligible to turn things around in this spot, but she could be the favorite with

Garrett Gomez and probably will be too short a price for our liking. We can

still use her on the bottom of the exotics. BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) is unplaced in

two previous starts over Keeneland's Polytrack but does appear to be rounding

into form for Kenny McPeek following a couple of solid showings at Saratoga.

This is a good distance for her (2-1-1-0 at seven furlongs) and we won't be

surprised to see the gray get involved late under Julien Leparoux.

KITTY IN A TIZZY (Tiznow) exits a couple of solid efforts at Woodbine,

including a second in the seven-furlong Duchess. She's eligible to outperform

our expectations, but her BRIS numbers are a little light and we'll just watch

to see how she handles her Keeneland debut. HILDA'S PASSION (Canadian Frontier)

steps up to make her graded debut for Pletcher following an 8 3/4-length win in

the off-the-turf Bennington S. at Saratoga and has won over Polytrack before,

posting a three-length allowance score at Arlington in May. She was no match for

our top choice in the aforementioned April allowance, but we like what

we've seen in her recent efforts and give the bay a chance to make an impact in

the top three.

NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet) captured the Alcibiades S. (G1) last fall and

Keeneland and finished fast for sixth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths, in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), but she has not found the winner's circle

in four starts this year for John Terranova, finishing a well-beaten sixth in

the grassy Garden City S. (G1) most recently. She's never earned big Speed ratings

and will be cutting back to a sprint for the first time in 14 months, so we'll

have to let her beat us. PLATINUM EXCHANGE (Exchange Rate) will be mixing it up

from her rail post and we can't knock her career record (5-2-2-1). The Brian

Lynch trainee will be stepping up to facing graded rivals and has plenty of

speed to her outside, but we still respect her chances.

Former claimer MY IRISH GIRL (Closing Argument) will bring a seven-race win

skein into her graded debut, but her lack of synthetic experience is a drawback

in our opinion. DECELERATOR (Dehere) has some back class but appears to have

gone off form in her recent attempts for D. Wayne Lukas. She probably needs a

softer spot. DISTORTED PROMISE (Distorted Humor), TREMENDAMENTE LOCA (Offlee

Wild) and SPEEDY SPICE (Thunder Gulch) may not be fast enough to challenge.