Taris Flies Clear in Lexus Raven Run
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Taris blazed to the lead and kept on going in the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 18, drawing off to an authoritative nine-length score in the seven-furlong sprint at Keeneland .
The 3-year-old daughter of Flatter , trained by Todd Beattie for Todd Mostoller's Commonwealth New Era Racing, got the distance on a fast track in 1:21.32. It was the quickest time since champion Informed Decision ran a stakes-record 1:20.86 on Polytrack in 2008. The Pennsylvania-based filly has now recorded victories at four different racetracks and has only lost once in five starts.
"We knew we had something there—but man, what she proved today...what a joy to be able to ride a horse like that," winning jockey Clinton Potts remarked. "With her, the biggest thing was just to get her relaxed and she was going to keep going. Just all the way around there, doing her business, she makes my job easy."
Off at 7-1 odds, Taris clicked off a quarter in :22.45 and a half in :44.80 before getting three-quarters in 1:08.88 with Charles Town Oaks (gr. III) winner Miss Behaviour giving chase throughout. She turned for home with about three lengths on her foes, then widened away through the stretch to finish alone at the wire. Potts never even cocked his stick.
"I knew it was a big step for her," Beattie remarked. "We're away from home but I thought the distance was right and thought the timing was right, and she stood up for the call."
Sweet Whiskey checked in second with Rosie Napravnik aboard, while Thank You Marylou and Alan Garcia finished third.
In a field of 11 sophomore fillies, Taris paid $16, $8.80, and $7.20, with Sweet Whiskey bringing $8.60 and $4.80. Thank You Marylou returned $4.60. Shayjolie, Taketheodds, Miss Behaviour, La Madrina, Bajan, Cassatt, Divided Attention, and Pirate's Trove completed the order of finish. Courageous Julie and Milam scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider out of the Theatrical mare Comedy, Taris was a $90,000 purchase by Commonweath New Era from the Claiborne Farm consignment at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.
She broke her maiden at first asking by 11 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct Racetrack in a six-furlong maiden special weight last December, then took the seven-furlong Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park by 5 1/2 in her second start. She turned in her only clunker March 14 when she was sixth after setting a mild pace when trying to stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Well-rested since then, the bay filly returned Sept. 10 with a 7 3/4-length victory in a six-furlong allowance at Presque Isle Downs. She has notched each victory in front-running fashion with Potts in the irons.