Betting With, and Against, Ragtime in the Raven Run Stakes

An overflow field of 14 fillies and mares is entered for the $400,000 Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday. The wildly competitive affair features nine individual stakes heroines in the main body of the field, led by Godolphin’s once-beaten #9 Ragtime (3-1), who was installed as the morning-line choice in the seven-furlong heat.

Ragtime – With

• 50-cent Superfecta: 9 with 7,10,11 with 7,10,11 with all ($27)
• 50-cent Superfecta: 9 with 7,10,11 with all with 7,10,11 ($27)

Ragtime – Against

• 50-cent Trifecta: 7,10,11 with 7,9,10,11 with all ($45)

Trained by Bill Mott, the homebred daughter of Union Rags impressed in a going-away win at first asking at Saratoga and followed it up with a fine allowance triumph by 4 1/4 lengths on the same surface on July 5. In her black-type bow, the sophomore missed by a head-bob in the Test S. (G1) in her third appearance, which preceded a facile score in the Dogwood S. (G3) at Churchill Downs most recently. 

Ragtime has raced solely at seven furlongs in her lifetime and appears to be coming into her local debut in good order. She has posted triple-digit Brisnet Late Pace ratings in each of her quartet of career showings to date and will be a major threat in the stretch with clear sailing late. Junior Alvarado retains the ride. 

There are numerous viable players outside of the favorite, including Maryland invader #7 Maida (10-1). Conditioned by Brittany Russell, the fleet daughter of Improbable has reeled off a trio of wins in succession by a combined 21 1/2 lengths in advance of her graded bow. The talented filly will surely face her toughest task to date, but her latest run was very impressive, and the bay has the speed to be involved early, which is key in a big field, as well. The price is right with regular pilot Sheldon Russell coming in to ride. 

A pair of runners on the comeback trail that were fairly well backed in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) – #10 Simply Joking (8-1) and #11 Quietside (4-1) – merit a lot of respect in the dash. The former, who is a two-time stakes victress from four career runs, will be saddled by Mike McCarthy for the initial time. The Practical Joke filly is super talented and will have Frankie Dettori in the silks. 

Two-time graded starlet Quietside was sixth in the Oaks and makes her local return after checking in third in the 2024 Alcibiades S. (G1) on the surface. The John Ortiz charge was second in a Grade 1 endeavor in her lone prior try at seven panels and will have Jose Ortiz on board.