Restless Rider Shortens Up for Raven Run Stakes

Restless Rider, a grade 1 winner on Keeneland's main track a year ago, will return to the site of her top success Oct. 19 for the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2), her first race since the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Run over seven furlongs, the Raven Run will be Restless Rider's first time sprinting since her juvenile campaign. Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables' daughter of Distorted Humor  is expected to face 10 other 3-year-old fillies Saturday.

The gray/roan filly is based with trainer Kenny McPeek's Keeneland string and prepped for the Raven Run with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 1/5 on the main track Oct. 13. The move was the third-fastest of 30 at the distance.

"She is doing super, and this is a good spot for her," McPeek said. "She has had a rest since the Kentucky Oaks in May, and she hasn't sprinted in a while. She is doing good, and we are hoping to have a good late season with her and maybe even next year."

The Kentucky Oaks is the lone race in eight starts Restless Rider failed to fire, trailing home. She was placed 12th after stewards disqualified Jaywalk from sixth to last.

At 2, Restless Rider won the six-furlong Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs. She was a 2 1/2-length winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) her first time around two turns at Keeneland last fall. She was second, defeated a neck, in the spring meet's Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1).

Brian Hernandez Jr., the only jockey to ride Restless Rider in the afternoon, retains the mount from post 6.

First Row Partners' Royal Charlotte will look to build on her consistent year. The Cairo Prince  filly has won five of six starts, all between six and seven furlongs. She debuted in March and won her first four outings, topped by a four-length victory in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. After tiring to sixth in the Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, she returned at the Spa in the Aug. 31 Prioress Stakes (G2) to snap Break Even's undefeated streak.

Royal Charlotte is one of two Chad Brown trainees in the Raven Run. He also has Brereton Jones' homebred Proud Citizen filly Indian Pride, who was an eight-length winner on debut going six furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 28.

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Royal Charlotte from the rail, and John Velazquez will be aboard Indian Pride from post 3.

The field also includes Horologist, a winner of four straight races topped by the Monmouth Oaks (G3) and a last-out third in the Cotillion Stakes (G1); Oxy Lady, the Tempted Stakes (G3) winner who is making her first start since April; and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots stakes winners Bell's the One and Needs Supervision.

Entries: Lexus Raven Run S. (G2)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 19, 2019, Race 9

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Royal Charlotte (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Chad C. Brown	3/1
2	2Bell's the One (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Neil L. Pessin	12/1
3	3Indian Pride (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Chad C. Brown	7/2
4	4Oxy Lady (KY)	Declan Cannon	118	Jack Sisterson	30/1
5	5Free Cover (KY)	Gabriel Saez	118	W. Bret Calhoun	30/1
6	6Restless Rider (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Kenneth G. McPeek	4/1
7	7Istan Council (KY)	Chantal Sutherland	118	J. Larry Jones	12/1
8	8First Star (FL)	Drayden Van Dyke	118	Ronald W. Ellis	6/1
9	9Horologist (NJ)	Joe Bravo	118	Richard Baltas	5/1
10	10Needs Supervision (KY)	Feargal Lynch	118	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	30/1
11	11Irish Mischief (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	Brad H. Cox	12/1