Lost Raven switched up tactics to register a career high and provide her red-hot young sire with another graded stakes winner.
A debut winner for a $50,000 tag at Belmont last fall, she stayed perfect in Laurel's Smart Halo S. before concluding her juvenile campaign with a fifth-place finish when stretched to two turns in the GII Demoiselle S. at the Big A Nov. 28. Second as they heavy favorite in Laurel's Marshua S. Jan. 16, the Repole homebred stretched back out with a third-place finish in the Busanda S. Jan. 31 and a well-beaten fifth in the Busher S. Feb. 7. The bay bounced back with a narrow wire-to-wire victory when shortened up for the six-furlong Cicada S. most recently Mar. 26, her third straight attempt over the Aqueduct inner track.
Surprisingly at the back of the pack in eighth here as Quick Release set a contested hot pace of :22.69 and :45.94, the second choice came charging down the center of the stretch beneath Johnny Velazquez to outkick longshot One True Kiss home for a narrow score. Quick Release stayed on to complete the trifecta after doing the heavy lifting.
“I was a little concerned because she's never been that far back in her career,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I knew that :22 and change at Pimlico is flying, so I was hoping the fractions were fast enough to allow her to come from behind.”
Lost Raven is the first foal from Elusive Raven (Elusive Quality), a maiden of three career starts. She also has a Stay Thirsty 2-year-old colt; an Overanalyze yearling colt; and a foal filly by the latter stallion this year. Elusive Raven, a $380,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by the late Edward P. Evans, brought $75,000 from Three Chimney Farms, agent, at the Evans dispersal at the 2011 KEENOV sale. Elusive Raven is a half-sister to this year's GII Gazelle S. winner and GI Kentucky Oaks third-place finisher Lewis Bay (Bernardini) as well as 2010 GIII Holy Bull S. winner Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song).
Saturday, Pimlico Race Course
ADENA SPRINGS MISS PREAKNESS S.-GIII, $150,000, PIM, 5-20, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.43, ft.
1–@LOST RAVEN, 120, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Elusive Raven, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Summer Raven, by Summer Squall
3rd Dam: Rahy Rose, by Rahy
O/B-Repole Stable (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-1-1, $290,350.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++.[bullet ad=”crupi-trained”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–One True Kiss, 116, f, 3, Warrior's Reward–True Kiss, by Is It
True. ($110,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison;
B-Pat Murphy (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $30,000.[bullet ad=”grovendale-double-bullet”]3–Quick Release, 116, f, 3, Trappe Shot–Just Joking, by
Distorted Humor. ($20,000 Ylg '14 FTKOCT; $43,000 2yo '15
OBSAPR). O-Ballybrit Stable, LLC; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY);
T-Michael Dini. $15,000.[bullet ad=”woodsideranch-grad”]Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 3.90, 17.30, 13.90.
Also Ran: She's All Ready, Right There, Moment Is Right, Ultra Brat, R Girls a Charmer, Simple Surprise, Banree. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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