Keeneland Barn Notes — Wednesday, Oct. 20

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet runs through Saturday, Oct. 30.
Post time for the first race each day is 1 p.m. ET. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays.

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· CILLA, SOUPER SENSATIONAL RENEW RIVALRY IN SATURDAY’S LEXUS RAVEN RUN

· FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

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CILLA, SOUPER SENSATIONAL RENEW RIVALRY
IN SATURDAY’S LEXUS RAVEN RUN

P. Dale Ladner’s Cilla and Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Sensational, who finished a half-length apart in last month’s Prioress (G2) at Saratoga, headline a field of 13 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 23rd running of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) going 7 furlongs on the main track.

The Lexus Raven Run is scheduled as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brett Brinkman, Cilla returned Tuesday afternoon to Keeneland, where she finished sixth as a 62-1 shot in the Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select. Since then, the Louisiana-bred daughter of California Chrome has won three consecutive races highlighted by the Prioress victory.

Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount Saturday and break from post position seven.

Souper Sensational, winner of the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park who has placed in three graded stakes, was runner-up in the Grade 1 Test prior to her run in the Prioress. Trained by Mark Casse, Souper Sensational will exit post position three and be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Another Grade 2 winner in the field is Juddmonte’s homebred Obligatory.

Trained by Bill Mott, Obligatory won the Eight Belles (G2) on April 30 at Churchill Downs going 7 furlongs. Runner-up in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx in her most recent start, Obligatory drew post 13 and will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

The field for the Lexus Raven Run, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Shalimar Gardens (Rafael Bejarano, 118 pounds), Joy’s Rocket (Julien Leparoux, 118), Souper Sensational (Santana Jr., 118), Minute Waltz (Martin Garcia, 118), Strong Silent (Corey Lanerie, 118), Feeling Mischief (Mitchell Murrill, 118), Cilla (Gaffalione, 120), Caramel Swirl (Junior Alvarado, 118), Zainalarab (John Velazquez, 118), Someone Said So (Adam Beschizza, 118), Miss Speedy (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Just Read It (Gerardo Corrales, 118), Obligatory (Florent Geroux, 120).

SOUP AND SANDWICH TAKES ON EIGHT FOES IN SATURDAY’S PERRYVILLE

Live Oak Plantation’s Soup and Sandwich, unraced since the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve in May, headlines a field of nine 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 13th running of the Perryville going 7 furlongs on the main track.

The Perryville is scheduled as the seventh race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 4:12 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.

Trained by Mark Casse, Soup and Sandwich won his first two career starts and was second in the Florida Derby (G1) before his run in the Kentucky Derby. Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount Saturday and break from post position one.

Looming as one of the main threats to Soup and Sandwich is Roseland Farm Stable’s Pickin’ Time.

Trained by Kelly Breen, Pickin’ Time has returned to sprinting and enters Saturday’s race off a runner-up effort to Jackie’s Warrior in the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx on Sept. 25. Corey Lanerie has the mount and will exit post position five.

The field for the Perryville, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Soup and Sandwich (Gaffalione, 118 pounds), Boca Boy (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., 118), Ram (Rafael Bejarano, 118), He’smyhoneybadger (Florent Geroux, 118), Pickin’ Time (Lanerie, 120), Pipeline (John Velazquez, 118), Irish Unity (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Cool Quest (Julien Leparoux, 118), Runway Magic (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118).

GRASS SPECIALIST TWO EMMYS IN GOOD FORM FOR FRIDAY’S SYCAMORE

Trainer Mac Robertson expects another good effort from Two Emmys, owned by Wolfe Racing and his father, Hugh Robertson, when the 5-year-old gelding goes to the post for Friday’s $150,000 Sycamore (G3) at 1½ miles on the turf. The Sycamore marks the first start for Two Emmys since he won the Mr. D. (G1) – the rebranded Arlington Million (G1) – at Arlington Park on Aug. 14.

“He loves it here at Keeneland,” Robertson said about the son of English Channel. “There are not many friendlier places than Keeneland for horses. There is a lot of grass, so he can graze. He likes to run on it, and he likes to eat it.”

A Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate, Two Emmys has won four of 16 starts and earned $545,708. Three of those victories have been on turf, where he has banked $525,140 primarily from his score in the $600,000 Mr. D.

The elder Robertson was the trainer of record for the Mr. D. score. Two Emmys rotates between Mac Robertson’s barn and his father’s division throughout the year.

“That is how we have done it for 20 years,” Mac said. “When I am at Keeneland, the horses race in my name. In the winter they are in his name at Fair Grounds and my name at Oaklawn Park.”

Two Emmys is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Sycamore. He will be ridden by James Graham, who was aboard in the Mr. D.

VAUGHAN HOPING LA LUNE (GB) CONTINUES BIG WEEK
IN SUNDAY’S ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER

For trainer Edward Vaughan, it already has been a big week.

“Got my first stakes win in the States Monday at Presque Isle (Downs),” Vaughan said Wednesday morning, referring to Alnaseem (GB)’s victory in the H.B.P.A. Stakes at the Pennsylvania track. Vaughan also owns Alnaseem, who gave him his first North American win with a May victory at Churchill Downs.

The trainer hopes the hot streak continues Sunday when he plans to run Alex Frost’s La Lune (GB) in the 30th running of the $150,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) going 1½ miles on the turf.

Vaughan, who set up shop here at Keeneland last November after relocating from England, had La Lune come to his barn two months ago.

“I got her just before her race at Kentucky Downs,” Vaughan said of the 5-year-old mare, who ran second in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (L) going 1 5/16 miles on Sept. 12.

“The owners wanted me to watch all her races to see if she would fit here. I thought she would do better with firmer ground and at Kentucky Downs, she was slow to break. She was just learning her job here, and I was just getting to know her.”

A Group 3 winner going 1½ miles at Haydock in England in May, La Lune tuned up for her expected Sunday start by working a half-mile in :50.80 on the main track Wednesday morning.

“Like a lot of mile-and-a-half horses, she won’t blow you away in the morning,” said Vaughan, who now has 11 horses in his barn after starting with three. “I left some horses behind and brought the ones that I thought would fit and we have picked up a few more.”

POTENTIAL FIELD FOR ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER