Raven Run

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of 13 has been entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Raven Run S. (G2)
at Keeneland, and the seven-furlong Polytrack event should be just what RATED
FIESTY (Exchange Man) needs to return to the winner’s circle.

The Steve Asmussen-trained gray captured her initial three starts, including
breaking her maiden over Keeneland’s synthetic by 4 3/4 lengths last year. She
added a 4 1/2-length score over the boys in the Kentucky S. (G3), then was an
easy 6 1/2-length winner of the Debutante S. (G3) to round out her juvenile
season. Rated Fiesty returned in January off a more than six-month break to
cross under the line first by a neck in the Dixie Belle S., but suffered her
first loss when disqualified to third. Given another seven months off, the
three-year-old lass just missed in the Weekend Delight S. last out at Turfway
Park while earning a nice 107 BRIS E2 Pace rating. She could lead all the way
home here with Shaun Bridgmohan retaining the mount.

INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) owns just one start on a synthetic surface, but
that came as a 6 1/4-length decision in an allowance/optional claimer at
Keeneland during the spring meet. The gray filly ran a good third in the Victory
Ride S. (G3) off a four-month vacation next out, and added the Missile Belle S.
going this race’s seven furlongs to her line most recently at Belmont Park.
Conditioned by Jonathan Sheppard, the sophomore miss worked a bullet half-mile
over Keeneland’s Polytrack on Wednesday and could break through with a first
graded score in this spot. John Velazquez has the call.

Las Virgenes S. (G1) heroine GOLDEN DOC A (Unusual Heat) has been crying out
for some class relief since May and, though she finished fourth in the Kentucky
Oaks (G1), the Greg Fox trainee has shown a preference for synthetic surfaces.
The chestnut lass captured the Generous Portion at Del Mar and Anoakia S. at
Santa Anita in 2007, then opened this season at that latter track with a second
in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) prior to her victory in the Las Virgenes. Golden Doc A traveled
east and finished second in the Beaumont S. (G2) going about seven furlongs here at Keeneland
before her foray to dirt tracks, and could jump up to her previous form and take
the win under Jesus Castanon.

SET PLAY (Van Nistelrooy) is another Grade 1 winner on synthetic tracks who
could return to form here. The Peter Miller trainee captured the Del Mar
Debutante (G1) last September and racked up a pair of runner-up efforts back at
that track during the summer. She was most recently switched to Belmont’s dirt,
finishing fourth in the Missile Belle, and will be getting blinkers added while
returning to the Polytrack. Set Play might find herself getting her picture
taken with Rene Douglas aboard.

SPRING AWAKENING (In Excess [Ire]) has raced exclusively on synthetic
surfaces during her nine-race career, capturing the California Breeders Champion
S. and Moccasin S. as well as running second in the Del Mar Debutante and third
in the Anoakia last year. She hasn’t shown quite the same ability in three
starts this year off a lengthy layoff, but could still earn a spot in the
exotics here. RIDE EM COWGIRL (Mazel Trick) was a dominating four-length winner
of the Nicole’s Dream S. when it was moved from the turf to Arlington’s
Polytrack two back, earning a 108 BRIS Speed rating. She could challenge for
pacesetting duties and hang around in the top three. SECRET GYPSY (Sea of
Secrets) immediately stepped up from her 6 1/4-length maiden debut win to face
graded rivals, but it took dropping back down to allowance/optional claiming
company before she recorded her next victory. With that one now under her girth,
the Ronny Werner charge could grab a piece of this one while making her
synthetic bow.

ABSOLUTELY CINDY (Arch) likes the Polytrack, breaking her maiden at Keeneland
last October and scoring a 1 3/4-length win against the boys in the John
Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park. She didn’t show much in her three races
following that one, though, and returns here off a five-month break. The layoff
probably did her some good, but we’ll just watch for now. VALENTINE FOREVER
(Stormin Fever) is in a similar situation, taking a Turfway stakes before
dropping off a bit and given some time on the sidelines. She does own a race
since her break, but didn’t do much that day and might need another one.
DREAMING OF LIZ (El Prado [Ire]) hasn’t done well sprinting in the past and
needs more distance than this one offers.

We’ll just watch to see how DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai) handles her
synthetic debut. EXTRA SEXY PSYCHIC (Freud) has done well for herself at Presque
Isle Downs, but appears to be a class below these. AWESOME I AM (Awesome Again)
might improve while returning to a sprint, but doesn’t look fast enough to keep
up with others in here.