New York-bred Fingal's Cave (Carpe Diem), perfect in four career starts in the Big Apple, takes on graded stakes company for the first time in Saturday's GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland.
The bay cuts back in distance to seven furlongs after capturing her stakes debut in Saratoga's Fleet Indian S. versus state-breds going 1 1/8 miles in the mud Aug. 26.
“At some point, we will challenge her and this seems to be a good spot,” trainer David Donk said. “The Raven Run is for straight 3-year-olds, it's graded and it is a good spot to see where we stand.”
He added, “I am not sure what her best distance is. She ran so well sprinting in her first two starts, and she has been training really well the past few weeks.”
Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) puts a three-race winning streak on the line following a narrow score in Saratoga's GII Prioress S. with the rail-drawn Union Lake (Speightster) back in third.
Smash Ticket (Midnight Lute) is two-for-two since joining the Rob Atras barn, including a big-figure 6 1/4-length tally in Pimlico's Weather Vane S. Sept. 24. She is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
Shamrock Rose (First Dude) used the 2018 Raven Run as a springboard to a 25-1 upset in that term's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
The 10-race Belmont at the Big A card, meanwhile, will feature a wide-open renewal of the GII Hill Prince S. for sophomore turfers; and the grassy GIII Noble Damsel S. for fillies and mares. Saturday's graded action is rounded out by Woodbine's GIII Ontario Matron S.
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