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Venetian Harbor Leads Munnings 1-2 in Lexus Raven Run

Venetian Harbor (Munnings) was hustled to the front by Manny Franco and made all the running, holding off Finite (Munnings) by a neck to lead home a one-two finish for her in-form, young sire in the GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland Saturday.

The bay, favored at 8-5 while seeking her first win since a blowout victory in the GII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita back in February, led the field of eight through early fractions of :23.06 and :46.17, and was traveling nicely as they hit the quarter pole.

She kicked for home with a two-length advantage, but was looking for the wire as GII Golden Rod S. and GII Rachel Alexandra S. heroine Finite came with a menacing rail run in deep stretch. Venetian Harbor had just enough left in the tank to hold on, however, and punch her ticket to next month’s GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

“Our intention was to go to the Breeders’ Cup, but we felt this would be a good opportunity to get a race in her,” winning co-owner Joseph Ciaglia said. “I couldn’t be any happier today.”

He continued, “She’s great out of the gate. She’s tenacious, and that’s what you need to win some races. Gotta be quick out of the gate. Manny [Franco] did a great job getting out of the gate, and that was the key to the win.”

Franco added, “She’s happy when she’s on the lead. She showed it today. She’s a nice filly.”

Venetian Harbor rounded out the bottom half of the exacta in her last three trips to the post behind some heavy hitters. She was second to the mighty Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn May 1, second to Speech (Mr Speaker) in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. July 11 and second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Longines Test S. last time Aug. 8.

Pedigree Notes:

Ashford sire Munnings nabbed the Raven Run exacta with 3-year-old daughters facing each other for the first time. Both Venetian Harbor and Finite are graded stakes winners of 2020 and join other current top sophomore filly and fellow graded winner Bonny South in the Speightstown son’s count of 17 graded winners and 42 black-type winners overall. Interestingly, Finite and Bonny South are both out of Tapit daughters, but Venetian Harbor is out of a daughter of Street Cry (Ire). Like Munnings, the late Street Cry had gotten plenty of good sons, but it was his daughters who really seemed to shine. As a broodmare sire, Street Cry has 77 black-type winners, including last year’s champion older male Vino Rosso (Curlin). Venetian Harbor is the second foal out of her dam, whose only foal since was a colt born this year by Oscar Performance. She was bred back to both Constitution and Speightstown for next term. Venetian Harbor’s fourth dam is Hall of Famer Safely Kept (Horatius), winner of the 1990 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Saturday, Keeneland
LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII, $200,000, Keeneland, 10-17, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.03, ft.
1–VENETIAN HARBOR, 120, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Sounds of the City, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Welcome Home, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Safe Return, by Mr. Prospector
($110,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $205,000 RNA 2yo ’19 OBSAPR). O-Ciaglia Racing LLC, Highland Yard LLC, River Oak Farm & Domenic Savides; B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Richard Baltas; J-Manuel Franco. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-4-0, $503,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Finite, 120, f, 3, Munnings–Remit, by Tapit. ($200,000 2yo ’19 EASMAY). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Thomas J Reiman, William Dickson & Deborah A Easter; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $40,000.
3–Grand Cru Classe, 118, f, 3, Bernardini–Christmas Lass, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($137,000 Ylg ’18 FTKOCT; $335,000 2yo ’19 EASMAY). O-Speedway Stable LLC; B-Daniel J Burke (KY); T-William I Mott. $20,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NO. Odds: 1.60, 9.40, 20.10.
Also Ran: Reagan’s Edge, Tonalist’s Shape, Secondary Market, Four Graces, Secret Keeper. Scratched: Fair Maiden, Never Forget.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Nyquist Filly Too Tough in Keeneland Maiden

7th-Keeneland, $69,943, Msw, 10-17, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:29.66, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
THINKING (f, 2, Nyquist–Critikal Reason {SP}, by Aptitude) was rated a 4-1 chance to improve off a debut sixth to next-out GIII Matron S. victrix Royal Approval (Tiznow) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9 and made a successful transition to the main track to graduate at second asking Saturday at Keeneland. One of the first into stride from her high draw, Thinking raced in a share of third and three wide down the backstretch before and chased outside dueling pacesetters into the turn. Ridden quietly while traveling strongly into the final quarter mile, the dark bay responded when set down and had 1 1/2 lengths on Three Tipsy Chix (Medaglia d’Oro) at the line. Willful Woman completed a 1-3 finish for Nyquist, while Wicked Bisou (Wicked Strong), the half-sister to champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) ran with credit to be fifth. Thinking, the 10th winner for her first-crop sire (by Uncle Mo), is a half -sister to Virtual Machine (Drosselmeyer), GSP, $200,755; and Bajan (Speightstown), MSW & GISP, $251,949. The stakes-placed Critikal Reason is a half-sister to 2006 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid), dam of champion and GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Forever Unbridled (Unbridled’s Song), GISW Unbridled Forever (Unbridled’s Song) and SP Forever d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro). Critikal Reason has a yearling named Thought (Street Sense) and a weanling colt by the same sire. Sales history: $195,000 RNA 2yo ’20 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $42,879. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Farfellow Farm, Ltd.; B-Farfellow Farms Ltd (KY); T-H Graham Motion.

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Vexatious, True Timber Work Toward Breeders’ Cup Assignments At Keeneland

Calumet Farm's Vexatious, winner of the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga over champion Midnight Bisou, continued working toward a probable start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 7 with a half-mile breeze in :50.20 Saturday morning shortly after the track opened for training.

“She always goes at 5:30,” trainer Jack Sisterson said. “She wants to go early and loves being outside. When the weather is nice, she will spend a lot of time out in the paddock.”

Saturday's work was the fifth half-mile breeze for Vexatious since finishing fifth behind champion Monomoy Girl in the La Troienne (G1) last month at Churchill Downs.

Sisterson also worked Calumet's True Timber, who is under consideration for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 7. True Timber worked 5 furlongs in company in 1:02.60 over the fast main track.

Sisterson took over the training of True Timber following Kiaran McLaughlin's retirement from training. True Timber has run three times for Sisterson, beginning with a third-place finish behind top Breeders' Cup contender C Z Rocket going 6½ furlongs here in July.

A millionaire, the 6-year-old True Timber has eight graded stakes placings on his resume but no graded victories.

“He's a horse that deserves to win a big race; he tries hard every time,” Sisterson said. “He's probably not a three-quarters horse and it was my mistake to run him in the (6-furlong) Vosburgh (G1) and he drew the rail. He had run so well in the (7-furlong) Forego (G1) beaten a little more than a length when he was third.”

Also working toward a possible Breeders' Cup engagement was Southern Equine Stable's Keepmeinmind.

Runner-up in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) here on Oct. 3, Keepmeinmind worked a half-mile in :49.20 with jockey David Cohen aboard.

“He worked fantastic,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said of the work at 7:30 a.m. following the first track maintenance renovation break. Keepmeinmind is targeting the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 6.

At The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) winner Ivar (BRZ) worked a half-mile in preparation for the Fan Duel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF.

“He went a half in an easy :50 like we planned,” trainer Paulo Lobo said via text about Ivar, who is owned by the partnership of Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI.

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Sunday’s Racing Insights: Well-Bred Juveniles Debuting All Over

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

2nd-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 12:55 p.m. ET
Several well-bred firsters will look to run down the likes of morning line favorite Exact (Competitive Edge), who was second over track and trip Sept. 18. Allen Stable and Shug McGaughey unveil Cafe Society (Empire Maker), a $135,000 KEESEP yearling turned $475,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old off a :10 flat breeze. Dam Full Tap (Tapit) was carrying Cafe Society when she brought $375,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. The three-time winner, who was third in her Saratoga unveiling at two, is out of SW Miss Challenge (More Than Ready) and from the family of MGSW sprinter Ventana (Toccet). Juddmonte homebred Obligatory (Curlin) is out of SW Uno Duo (Macho Uno), a stakes-winning half to G1SW Etoile Montante (Miswaki), who in turn produced MGSW Starformer (Dynaformer). This is also the female family of Juddmonte’s 2020 GII Fair Grounds Oaks winner and GI Alabama S. and GII Black-Eyed Susan S. runner-up Bonny South (Munnings). Salt Plage (Quality Road) is half of an Alpha Delta Stables/Linda Rice entry. She’s out of GSW French Satin (French Deputy), already the dam of GSW Long Haul Bay (Quality Road), SW/GSP Midnight Transfer (Hard Spun) and SW Scilly Cay (Fed Biz). French Satin is half to MGISW Lion Heart (Tale of the Cat). Entry mate Nisbet Beach (Fed Biz) is out of a half to MGSW Sara Louise (Malibu Moon). Hit the Woah (Vancouver {Aus}), a $150,000 KEESEP buy, is out of a half to Japanese Grade I winner Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and GSW sprinter Sacristy (Pulpit). Another half to the dam produced G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}). TJCIS PPs

6th-KEE, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 7f 184 ft., post time: 3:51 p.m. ET
Beatbox (Pioneerof the Nile), the sixth-priciest yearling at Keeneland September last year at $2.1 million, makes a much-anticipated debut amid a field of well-bred newcomers. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, who still owns the colt with e Five Racing, the May foal is a half to ‘TDN Rising Star’, MGISW and fellow Chad Brown trainee Guarana (Ghostzapper); and precocious SW and ‘Rising Star’ Magic Dance (More Than Ready). His second dam is GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold). Flaxman Holdings homebred Tiwanaku (Tapit). His dam took the 2012 GI Jenny Wiley S. over the local lawn before bringing $1.3 million there the following November. War Machine (War Front) is half to GISW juvenile Sweet Loretta (Tapit). The $575,000 KEESEP RNA’s SP dam Ithinkisawapudycat (Bluegrass Cat) was purchased for $2.2 million in foal to Constitution at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Ithinkisawapudycat is half to Canadian champion 2-year-old filly and local GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Spring in the Air (SpringAt Last). TJCIS PPs

10th-SA, $55K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 8:45 p.m. ET
The week of racing concludes at Santa Anita with a heat for juvenile fillies led by a pair of Bob Baffert trainees. Private Mission (Into Mischief), a $750,000 FTSAUG yearling buy for Baoma Corp., is out of SW Private Gift (Unbridled)–a $2.3-million 2008 Fasig-Tipton November purchase in foal to A.P. Indy. Private Gift has produced SW/GSP Secret Someone (A.P. Indy) as well as the dam of GISW Dunbar Road (Quality Road). She is a half to GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Status (A.P. Indy). Private Mission’s impressive morning activity includes a :59 3/5 (2/16) spin from the gate Sept. 23 (XBTV Video). Godolphin homebred Frosteria (Frosted), meanwhile, Grade I-winning sprinter and 2007 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff runner-up Hystericalady (Distorted Humor). That near $2.4-million earner sold the same November as Private Gift, across town, for $3 million at Keeneland. Hystericalady’s best runner to date has been the long-winded GSW and GISP turfer Lady Montdore (Medaglia d’Oro). Frosteria prepped for this with a work inside of MGISP maiden stablemate Spielberg (Union Rags) that saw the pair accidentally hook up with another duo in the stretch. Frosteria was credited with four furlongs in :47 flat (2/61, XBTV Video). TJCIS PPs

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