Emery confirms class in Raven Run

It was Girl in Gold who came home best in Keeneland Emery (More Than Ready) claimed the GII Lexus Raven Run Stakes for owner Stonestreet Stables.

Last seen as a bridesmaid for GISW Ways and Means (Practical Joke) in the GI Test Stakes at Saratoga, where MGSW & GISP My mane pinch (Audible) finished third, Emery had entered the race on a three-race win streak that started in June. After claiming victory in the Leslie’s Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs and then taking her first victory in the GIII Victory Ride Stakes on July 4 in New York, she had shown the betting public enough to be made 6-5 favorite here despite that to be crowned loss August 3.

Alert away if Fiber (Frosted) took it upon himself to keep the pace fair through the opening fractions of :22.53 and :45.29, Emery content to chase that leading bunch from the outside in fourth. The striking filly took command as they turned for home and was in clear control as Fibber tried to mount a response. It was hard to miss as she strode home to a two-length win over My Mane Squeeze, who was last early after starting slow and flying late to overtake Fibber for second.

“I think it was critical to let her set the pace) but she could lead the way when needed, when there was a lack of pace in the race,” said Brad Cox. “I would like to start by thanking the team (owner) Stonestreet (Stables) – Mrs. (Barbara) Banke and her entire team. They are very easy to work for.”

“We had to give this filly some time off after her second start, and she has come back and rewarded her big time this year. I’m very proud of the filly, and (jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) did a great job. He put her in a perfect position today and she shot.”

Luis Saez, riding the furious closing runner-up My Mane Squeeze, attributed the rough ride to some pre-race antics in the blocks. “It was a tough journey. She acted a little mean in the gate, and she didn’t break very well. We thought we were going to get (Emery) but the winner was too good; she kept going. It was a close second.”

Emery’s victory in the Raven Run was the fourth for Tyler Gaffalione and Brad Cox separately of the fall meet, but the first they had won together. Both lead their respective title categories for the Keeneland season through Saturday’s results.

Watch the full replay as EMERY wins convincingly @Lexus Raven run (G2)! pic.twitter.com/Lrm3hAkxJO

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 19, 2024

Family tree Note:

Emery is the second of as many winners to make it to the races for Athena, but by far her most successful. Since this victor, the mother has produced a now 2-year-old named Athena’s Secret (American Pharoah), as well as a pair of fillies in the wings: a yearling by Improbable and a 2024 Good Magic. She is not bred until 2025.

Athena, herself a three-time stakes winner, is herself a half-sister to GI Carter Handicap hero Peeping Tome, who visited the winner’s enclosure fourteen times and was also placed several Class Is in his career. This is the extended female family of multi-millionaire Sun King, multi-winning half-siblings Hurricane Bertie and Allamerican Bertie, as well as track record setter MSW West Ocean through her mother, MGSW Ocean Drive.

Saturday, Keeneland
LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII$340,000, Keeneland, 10-19, 3 years, f, 7f, 1:23.21, ft.
1–EMERY, 118, v, 3, by More Than Ready
1st dam: Athena (MSW, $459,222), by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Race Rocks (Ire), at Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
3rd mother: Artful Pleasure, by Nasty and Bold
($235,000 Wlg ’21 KEENOV). O-Stone Street Stables LLC; B-Mary K. Grum (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $203,438. Lifetime record: GISP, 7-5-1-0, $655,986. Work Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free catalog style family tree from Equineline.com.
2–My mane pinch, 120, f, 3, Audible – despite mum, through Speightstown. O-William J. Butler and WinStar Farm LLC; B-William Butler (NY); T-Michael J. Maker. $56,250.
3–Fiber, 118, f, 3, Frosted-Devious Intent, by Dixie Union. ($55,000 Ylg ’22 KEESEP). O-Flatland Racing Stable; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman. $32,813.
Margins: 2, 2HF, HD. Odds: 1.25, 3.42, 8.70.
Also Ran: VV’s Dream, Mink’s Palace, Miuccia, Haulin Ice, Riperton, Twirling Queen, Uno Le.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.