Moonshine Memories Headlines Overflow Raven Run Field

The 2018 season has been a bit of an exercise in frustration where Moonshine Memories is concerned. In that respect, the most recent outing for the multiple grade 1 winner was par for the course.

A few strides out of the gate in the Sept. 2 Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, Moonshine Memories' day was about over. After taking a hard bump from eventual race winner Dream Tree, the Simon Callaghan trainee ended up at the back of the eight-horse field, thoroughly negating her effective early speed.

She went on to suffer her fourth loss in her last five starts, but the fact she ran on to get third behind the filly considered the leader of the female sprint ranks suggests to Callaghan that maybe the days of chagrin could be shifting for the Eclipse Award finalist. If she can get her form and her fortunes on the same page against an overflow field entered for the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 20, it may be a convincing enough argument to earn her a 4-year-old campaign.

"The way she finished, I think it was a really credible run, the way she gutted it out and finished the race so well," Callaghan said of the Prioress. "I think if she had broken on terms, I think she would have been right there with Dream Tree."

Disheartening as the Prioress outcome was, it told Callaghan he was that much closer to getting Moonshine Memories back to the best version of herself—and 12 months ago, that version was one no other filly in her division could conquer. 

The bay daughter of Malibu Moon  captured her first three starts and headed into the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in November as the favorite off victories in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) and Chandelier Stakes (G1). Her subsequent seventh-place finish in the Juvenile Fillies ended up costing her divisional honors to Caledonia Road, and due to various minor setbacks, she was sidelined until May 12, when she ran second in the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

An ambitious swing in the June 9 Acorn Stakes (G1) resulted in a fourth-place finish behind leading sophomore filly Monomoy Girl, but that race's one-mile distance is one Callaghan thinks might be beyond her scope now at the top level. She got a confidence boost when she took a 6 1/2-furlong allowance test at Del Mar July 19 prior to her Prioress outing and the seven-furlong Raven Run is one her camp believes should hit her between the eyes.

"When we ran back east earlier in the year, I think she had an inside post and was very forwardly placed and probably went a touch too quick on a deep track," Callaghan said of the Acorn. "And then taking on the likes of Monomoy Girl, she has proven how good a filly she is and (Moonshine Memories) was probably a bit past her limit in terms of stamina. I think switching back to sprint distances is showing this filly at her absolute best. I think six or seven furlongs is absolutely perfect in terms of distance for her and it would be nice to see her win her second race this year."

Owned by Bridlewood Farm, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, Moonshine Memories is entered in the Fasig-Tipton November Sale—but Callaghan says a decision on whether she will actually go through the ring likely hinges on how this weekend goes.

"I don't think it's firm, I think they're just precautionary having her in there, and after this race we'll discuss what the plan is," he said. "I think there is a chance they could race her next year, but I think this race will tell us a lot in terms of making our decision whether they should sell or not. Obviously she's a top-class filly and I think the type of filly we'd have a fun campaign with as a 4-year-old."

Moonshine  Memories will break from post 9 in the overflow field of 16 entered—a maximum of 14 will run—and will have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons.

Cleber Massey's Blamed comes into the Raven Run with a five-race win streak to her credit and is stepping into graded company for the first time. The daughter of Blame  will make her first start since being transferred from Joel Marr to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, and hasn't raced since taking the March 25 Sunland Park Oaks by 6 1/4 lengths.

The Brad Cox-trained Kelly's Humor hasn't won since taking the 2017 Ellis Park Debutante Stakes, but has been giving admirable accounts of herself against some of the division's top company. The daughter of Midnight Lute  was most recently third in the Aug. 4 Longines Test Stakes (G1), where she edged out fellow Raven Run entrant Alter Moon by a nose.

Entries: Lexus Raven Run S. (G2)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 20, 2018, Race 9

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

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Amy's Challenge (KY)	Jareth Loveberry	118	McLean Robertson	8/1
2	2Everyonelovesjimmy (KY)	Chris Landeros	118	Ian R. Wilkes	20/1
3	3Blamed (MD)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	William I. Mott	15/1
4	4True Royalty (FL)	Robby Albarado	120	John W. Sadler	12/1
5	5Alter Moon (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Chad C. Brown	7/2
6	6Kelly's Humor (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Brad H. Cox	6/1
7	7She's Pretty Lucky (TX)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Eddie Kenneally	20/1
8	8Chauncey (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	118	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
9	9Moonshine Memories (KY)	Mike E. Smith	118	Simon Callaghan	3/1
10	10Divine Queen (KY)	Calvin H. Borel	118	William B. Bradley	15/1
11	11Take Charge Paula (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	12/1
12	12Shamrock Rose (PA)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Mark E. Casse	15/1
13	13Bronx Beauty (PA)	Albin Jimenez	118	Anthony R. Margotta, Jr.	12/1
14	14Nootka Sound (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	120	Wesley A. Ward	15/1
15	15Criminal Mischief (KY)	Gabriel Saez	118	D. Wayne Lukas	30/1
16	16She's a Gypsy (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	118	Helen Pitts	30/1