Going for ‘Gold’ in Raven Run

Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro) steps out of the shadow of Breeders’ Cup-bound Cavorting (Bernardini) and into the spotlight Saturday in Keeneland’s GII Lexus Raven Run S. Having bested fellow New York-breds in highly impressive fashion in each of her first three starts, the Chester and Mary Broman homebred failed to overcome a poor start and settled for sixth in Belmont’s GI Acorn S. June 6. A dull fourth in the GIII Delaware Oaks July 11, the dark bay was cut back in distance by trainer John Kimmel to run a bang-up second at 15-1 behind the aforementioned Cavorting in Saratoga’s GI Test S. Aug. 8. She again found only that rival too good when rallying from further back in the GII Prioress S. Sept. 6, and appears to have been working well since shipping back down to Belmont. Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Irish Jasper (First Defence) were fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Prioress. Miss Ella (Exchange Rate) sports a local win, having taken the GII Beaumont S. over the “about” seven-furlong Beard Course in April. Seventh in the Acorn, she was fourth behind Irish Jasper and Kathballu (Bluegrass Cat) in the in Belmont’s GIII Victory Ride S. The Graham Motion pupil was second behind the brilliant Lady Shipman (Midshipman) when trying the turf in the Spa’s Coronation Cup S. Aug. 3, and returned to winning ways down state in the Sept. 11 rained-off Christiecat S. The late-running Chide (Blame), a fellow Al Stall, Jr. trainee along with Paid Up Subscriber, filled out the trifecta in Belmont’s GI Mother Goose S. June 27. Fifth in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 26, she shortened up to be second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Super Majesty (Super Saver) in Churchill’s seven-furlong GIII Dogwood S. Sept. 19. Forever Unbridled (Unbridled’s Song) could be an intriguing player at a price if she follows the lead of year-older full-sister Unbridled Forever. The latter hit the board in a number of tough route spots last year at three, but did her best running in two seven-panel tries this season, closing impressively to take the GI Ballerina S. in August. Fellow Dallas Stewart-trained, Chuck Fipke-owned and bred Forever Unbridled was third to I’m a Chatterbox (Munnings) in both the GIII Rachel Alexandra S. and GII Fair Grounds Oajs earlier this year, but could only manage 11th in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 1. Off since then, she’s been working up a storm recently, and fired a five-furlong bullet in 1:00.20 (1/33) at Churchill Sunday.