Emery takes Raven Run; 28-1 Brunacini takes Perryville
Keeneland stakes recaps by the track’s publicity staff (Coady Media/John Gallagher photo of Emery taking Keeneland’s G2 Raven Run)
LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 19, 2024) – Stonestreet Stables’ Emery took command at the top of the stretch en route to posting a 2-length victory in the 26th running of the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon.
Earlier on the program, Emilie Fojan’s homebred Brunacini held off odds-on favorite Book’em Danno by a neck to win the 16th running of the $300,000 Perryville (G3) for 3-year-olds.
In the Lexus Raven Run, Fibber and Twirling Queen alternated on the front end through fractions of :22.53 and :45.29 as Emery raced in the clear tracking in third. On the final turn, Emery moved up three-wide on the leaders, overtook Fibber at the head of the stretch and had more than enough left to hold off a late bid from My Mane Squeeze.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Emery completed the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.21. The victory is the third in the race for Gaffalione, who won previously with Wicked Halo (2022) and Shamrock Rose (2018).
The Lexus Raven Run victory marked the fourth stakes victory of the Fall Meet for both Cox and Gaffalione but the first one they have achieved together.
Gaffalione, who won three races Saturday, leads jockeys during the season with 19 victories. Cox leads trainers through Saturday’s 12th day of the 17-day season with 10 wins.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Emery is a Kentucky-bred daughter of More Than Ready out of the Street Sense mare Athena. She has won five of seven races with Gaffalione being aboard for all the victories.
The victory was worth $203,438 and improved her earnings to $655,986.
Emery returned $4.50, $3.22 and $2.44. My Mane Squeeze, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $3.96 and $2.84 and finished 2½ lengths in front of Fibber, who paid $3.86 to show under Rafael Bejarano.
It was a head back to V V’s Dream in fourth with Mink’s Palace, Miuccia, Haulin Ice, Riperton, Twirling Queen and Uno Le following in order.
Brunacini scores 28-1 upset in Perryville
Emilie Fojan’s Brunacini, who drew into the race because of four scratches from the main body of the race, made the most of his first stakes opportunity by holding off Grade 1 winner Book’em Danno by a neck.
Trained by Matt Sims and ridden by Luan Machado, Brunacini completed the 7 furlongs on the fast main track in a stakes-record 1:22.80. The victory was the first stakes triumph for Sims, son of Keeneland trainer Phil Sims. The younger Sims, who is based at Keeneland, began training in 2023.
Goodlookinjustice and Patriot Spirit led the field of nine through fractions of :22.01 and :44.75 with Epic Ride, Knightsbridge and Brunacini tracking in the second flight and Book’em Danno near the back of the pack.
At the top of the stretch, Epic Ride took over with Brunacini to his outside while behind them, Book’em Danno began slicing his way through the field. Brunacini gained the lead before the sixteenth pole and had enough left to hold off Book’em Danno to his inside.
Brunacini is a Kentucky-bred son of Dortmund out of the Wilburn mare Our Conquistadora. A winner of two of three starts, Brunacini collected $147,250 for the victory that boosted his earnings to $191,270.
Brunacini rewarded his backers with payoffs of $58.16, $12.10 and $4.96. Book’em Danno, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $2.32 and $2.10 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Knightsbridge ($2.12 under Junior Alvarado) and Epic Ride ($2.56 under Edgar Morales) who finished in a dead heat for third.
It was another 1¾ lengths back to Love Me Tender with Patriot Spirit, Banjo Chris, Henro and Goodlookinjustice following in order.
