Lost Raven Makes the Grade in Miss Preakness

Repole Stable's Lost Raven showed a new dimension May 20 at Pimlico Race Course and it paid off for her first graded stakes victory.

On or near the front in all seven of her starts prior to Friday, the homebred Uncle Mo   filly raced in eighth in the 10-filly field in the Adena Springs Miss Preakness (gr. III) field early (13 1/2 lengths back after a quarter in :22.69 and 9 1/2 back after a half in :45.94) and still had to make up five lengths in sixth at the top of the stretch. 

But she made up the ground quickly. Under jockey John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly blew by pacesetter Quick Release with fellow closer One True Kiss and prevailed by three-quarters of a length, finishing off the six-furlong, $100,000 race in 1:11.43. 

Last time out, Lost Raven won the six-furlong Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack March 26 by leading at every point of call.

"I was a little concerned, because she's never been that far back in her career," Pletcher said. "I knew that (:22.69) at Pimlico is flying, so I was hoping the fractions were fast enough to allow her to come from behind."

Off as the 7-2 second choice Friday, Lost Raven paid $9.80, $5.20, and $3.80 across the board. One True Kiss brought $14.20 and $8.60, and Quick Release delivered $9 to show.

She's All Ready finished an even fourth, followed by Right There, Moment Is Right, Ultra Brat, R Girls a Charmer, Simple Surprise, and Banree to complete the order of finish.

Lost Raven was bred in Kentucky, out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Raven, and has a 4-1-1 record from eight starts with $290,350 in earnings.