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Former classic starter Raise Cain prevailed by a head over Dr. Venkman after a stretch-long duel in the $250,000 Perryville on Saturday at Keeneland.

Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by Luis Saez, Raise Cain covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.58.

Verifying and Confidence Game zipped an opening half-mile in :45.69 with Dr. Venkman racing three-wide just behind the leaders and Raise Cain saving ground in fourth.

On the turn, Dr. Venkman went after the top two with Raise Cain tipping off the inside and moving just behind Dr. Venkman.

At the top of the stretch, those two hooked up with Raise Cain owning the initial momentum to stick his head in front only to have Dr. Venkman battle back to hold a narrow edge through the lane until Raise Cain pushed by for good in the final 20 yards.

Andrew and Rania Warren's Raise Cain is a Kentucky-bred son of Violence out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Belle. Winner of the one-mile Gotham (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths at 25-1 odds this spring at Aqueduct, he was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Perryville marked his second stakes victory and improved his record to 13-3-2-1 while boosting his earnings to $577,066 with Saturday's $153,063 check.

“His only wins were around one turn,” Colebrook said. “He got us to the (Kentucky) Derby and he's been such an overachieving horse, he really deserved it. I think (jockey) Luis Saez made the difference. He rode him great. I mean, all the riders have ridden him well, but Luis gives you that just extra little bit. That's probably what we needed today.”

Andrew Warren paid $180,000 to acquire Raise Cain at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Warrendale Sales consigned him.

Raise Cain returned $14.88 for the win. Dr. Venkman, sent off as the favorite under John Velazquez, finished 1¼ lengths in front of Post Time in third.

It was another 5½ lengths back to Loyal Company with Verifying and Confidence Game completing the order of finish.

The post ‘Extra Little Bit’: Saez Gets Best From Raise Cain For Narrow Perryville Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Vahva collared pacesetter Alva Starr in deep stretch and edged to a half-length victory in the 25th running of the $349,375 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, Vahva covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.28.

“She's been a gritty filly throughout her career but really had to run that filly down,” said DeVaux, who notched her first Keeneland stakes victory.

Velazquez said he knew favorite Alva Starr would be tough to beat but his mount was game for the win.

“I got close to the heels of the horse in front (Alva Starr), held my position, and when I pulled (Vahva) out she responded. That's all you can ask of the horses. She was there for me, and she did it all,” said Velazquez, who posted his 62nd Keeneland win, three of which have come in the Raven Run, including in 2008 with Informed Decision and 2012 with Gypsy Robin.

Alva Starr led the field of seven through an opening quarter-mile in :22.61 while under pressure from Ancient Peace with 2-1 second choice Vahva tracking in fourth. On the far turn, Vahva began to close in and by the top of the stretch it was game on between the two favorites.

Alva Starr stubbornly clung to an advantage through most of the run through the lane, yielding only inside the sixteenths pole as Vahva pushed past for the victory.

Vahva was coming off a victory in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 25. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Gun Runner out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Holiday Soiree, Vahva improved her record to 10-4-2-2 and increased her earnings to $873,810 with Saturday's $211,575 check.

Vahva returned $7.06 for the win.

Alva Starr, stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time, finished 12½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Dazzling Blue.

“We knew we were up against a new factor (first time beyond six furlongs),” said Alva Starr's trainer, Brett Brinkman. “I am not scared to run her seven-eighths (again). She is a sprinter.

“We will probably take her home (to Fair Grounds in New Orleans) and piddle around with her, give her some time off and regroup.”

It was another half-length back to Apple Picker in fourth, with Lily Poo, Lady Radler, and Ancient Peace following in order.

Vahva was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, which sold her for $280,000 to DBR IV and West Point at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The post Vahva Collars Front-Running Favorite Alva Starr For Raven Run Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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