Lightstream rallies for Raven Run victory

Up Hill Stables and Head of Plains Partner LLC’s Lightstream was sent off the 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s $250,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and lived up to expectations with a rallying 1 1/4-length victory.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Lightstream bided her time six wide in midpack as Lucy N Ethel led the way up front through splits of :22.50 and :45.30. The Brian Lynch trainee moved even farther out entering the stretch and powered down the center of the lane to collar longshots Malibu Stacy and Coniah for the win.

Lightstream paid $6.80 for finishing seven furlongs in 1:22.68 and was followed by 40-1 Malibu Stacy, who had a half-length to spare on 34-1 Coniah. Curlin’s Approval came next and finishing the order under the line were Grace’s Treasure, Southern Girl, Takrees, Covey Trace, Sophia’s Song, Bellamentary, Ma Can Do It and Lucy N Ethel.

Lightstream improved her record to read 6-4-1-1, $457,000 while getting back to her winning ways in the Raven Run after dropping her last two starts. The bay daughter of Harlan’s Holiday started her career with a trio of scores, including the Beaumont Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April and the Soaring Softly Stakes at Belmont Park one month later.

The sophomore lass stayed at Belmont to stretch out past seven furlongs for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose Stakes (G1), where she came five wide to finish third. Lightstream headed to Saratoga next for a cutback to seven furlongs in the Test Stakes (G1) on August 6. The filly just missed by three parts of a length in that event and was given some time off before reappearing for the Raven Run.

Bred in Kentucky by Ann Marie Farm, Lightstream is out of the stakes-winning Arch mare North Beach, who is a half-sister to Grade 3 victor Kilgowan and multiple stakes heroine Rivoltella. This is the same female family as champion, dual classic winner and successful sire Afleet Alex.

Lightstream photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography

RAVEN RUN QUOTES

Julien Leparoux, jockey Lightstream, winner:

“With that post on the outside – she’s a come-from-behind (runner) anyway. She broke good. I saved ground a little bit on the turn and came around and she made that big run of hers.

“She really impressed me on the turn when I asked her. She really took off, which actually made me go wider than I wanted to. But she got the job done.”

Gabriel Saez, jockey Malibu Stacy, second:

“It was one of the best trips I have ever had. She broke on top and was close, which was where I wanted to be. I was sitting there waiting to make my move, and when we turned for home we swung out in the clear and she took off running. She gave me everything she had. Next thing I knew I saw (the winner) coming past me and figured we would be second. My filly ran a huge race.”

Joe Bravo, jockey Coniah, third:

“I really watched the replays of this filly the last couple of starts. She ran just how we expected today. She kicked off and it was just a shame that (the distance of the race) was just seven-eighths (of a mile), but I felt like I was on the right horse. Every race she is getting better and better.”