Raven Run Stakes 2018: Field & Odds at Keeneland

Michael Tabor, Bridlewood Farm, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's two-time Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories has made three trips east of the Mississippi River from her Southern California base, but she has made her first stop in Kentucky for Saturday's 20th running of the $250,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

"This is the coldest weather she's been in," said Jerry Quinn, who is overseeing the 3-year-old filly's preparation for trainer Simon Callaghan. "But she loves it. She travels well. She has the perfect temperament. You can't find a fault in her."

On a brisk Thursday morning, Moonshine Memories galloped on the main track, a day after a 2-mile jog, also on the main track.

Moonshine Memories won the Chandelier (G1) at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Debutante (G1) last year before finishing seventh as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

After the Breeders' Cup, she got a six-month break from racing, "just for some R and R," Quinn said.

Fourth in the Acorn (G1) at Belmont in June, Moonshine Memories was a troubled third in the Prioress (G2) Sept. 2 at Saratoga in her most recent start.

"She got absolutely destroyed at the break by (winner) Dream Tree and was pinched back to last," Quinn said of the race in which Moonshine Memories dropped nearly 10 lengths off the pace after the start. "She put in a big run and only got beat a head for second by one of the best fillies around (Mia Mischief)."

Callaghan has another 2-year-old filly following in the footsteps of Moonshine Memories in Bellafina. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina has won the same Grade 1s Moonshine Memories did in 2017 as well as the Sorrento (G2) at Del Mar.

"She's a very good filly," Quinn said of Bellafina, who figures to be one of the favorites for the $2 million Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2. Bellafina is scheduled to ship from California to Louisville Oct. 26.

Kelly's Humor Ready To Roll for Saturday's Lexus Raven Run

Dawn and Ike Thrash's Kelly's Humor, a fast-closing second this spring in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, makes her Keeneland return Saturday afternoon in the 20th running of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2).

"She really likes Keeneland and ran well off the layoff last spring," trainer Brad Cox said of the filly's runner-up finish to GasStation Sushi in the Beaumont in her first start in 4½ months.

Listed as the 6-1 third choice on the morning line for the 7-furlong Lexus Raven Run, Kelly's Humor will be making her first start since finishing third in the Test (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 4.

"The break was by design," Cox said. "She runs well fresh and has done well at Keeneland (where she has worked twice)."

Although she is graded stakes-placed going two turns, Cox feels sprinting might be Kelly's Humor's forte.

"The one turn probably fits her better," Cox said. "She is effective going two turns and she broke her maiden going a mile at Ellis Park and that is like a turn and a half."

Amy's Challenge Looking Forward to G2 Raven Run

Novogratz Racing Stables' Amy's Challenge tuned up for a start in Saturday's $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) by working a half-mile in :46.80 Wednesday morning over a fast track for trainer Mac Robertson.

Working on her own after the renovation break, Amy's Challenge galloped out 5 furlongs in :59.

"Pretty good; pretty good," Robertson said after the work.

Undefeated as a 2-year-old and graded stakes-placed this spring at Oaklawn Park, Amy's Challenge comes into the Lexus Raven Run off a turf sprint victory at Canterbury Park.

"I was just trying to get her a win," Robertson said of the grass start. "She had been running her guts out without winning one."

Amy's Challenge faltered in her only try at seven furlongs, but there's more than enough reason to give her another chance at the trip. When she tried it, it was the end of a tough Oaks prep campaign -- an Oaklawn campaign that had her running several races that were tough, torrid, and longer than she ever wanted to go. She had little left for the Eight Belles (G2) on the Oaks undercard, and got a well-deserved break after that.

Amy's Challenge came to Keeneland last fall after beating the boys in her first two starts but did not race.

"She's a sound filly and she has done well here," Robertson said.

Wednesday's work was the third for Amy's Challenge at Keeneland following a bullet 5 furlongs in :59 on Oct. 9 and another five-eighths work in :58.60 on Oct. 3.