Ladies Take the Spotlight at Keeneland

A pair of graded races for females will top the penultimate week of racing at Keeneland Race Course. The Friday feature is the $150,000 Valley View S. (G3), for sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the turf course.

Riskaverse S. third Unbelievable Dream is a Grade 3 winner on this turf from a score in the Appalachian S. (G3) last campaign and will make her return to these parts for trainer Barclay Tagg. The daughter of Kitalpha has a big turn of foot and should be fresh and ready coming off the short layoff for this one.

Grade 3 winner Tapicat has tired after leading in a pair of tough spots in the Empire State, and the Bill Mott pupil could be the one to catch if she opts for this spot. Also expected for this affair is Appalachian S. second placer Overheard, the consistent Grade 3 runner-up Sustained, Reade Baker’s Canadian import She’s Popular, a fine allowance winner at Woodbine last time, and the Wayne Catalano-trained Stormin Elle, three-for-four lifetime, including a perfect mark from a pair of turf outings.

The Saturday feature at Keeneland is the $250,000 Raven Run S. (G2), a seven-furlong test for three-year-old fillies. Prioress S. (G1) winner Lighthouse Bay could be the one to beat in this spot for conditioner George Weaver. A close fifth in the Test S. (G1) most recently, this daughter of Speightstown has really improved as of late, and if she handles the dirt to synthetic move on this Polytrack, she looms a big chance for a sharp barn. 

Among those also in with a logical chance include Grade 3 synthetic specialist Silsita, the multiple graded placed Fully Living, a fine second at Monmouth Park in the Ms Woodford S. most recently, Coronation Cup S. upsetter Jewel of a Cat, the lightly raced stakes winner Madame Cactus from the barn of Peter Eurton, who comes off a big second to a very nice one at Del Mar, and the Catalano-conditioned Ciao Bella Luna, who dominated the Beaumont S. (G2) here in the spring.