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

A total of 10 three-year-old fillies will jaunt seven-eighths of a mile on the Keeneland main oval in Saturday’s $350,000 Raven Run S. (G2). Stonestreet Stables’ #5 Emery (7-5) is the one to beat for conditioner Brad Cox in her second local appearance. 

Emery – With

• $1 superfecta 5 with 3,4,10 with 3,4,10 with all ($42)
• $1 superfecta 5 with 3 with 4,10 with all ($14)

Emery – Against

• $5 exacta box 3,4,10 ($30)
• $1 trifecta 3,4,10 with 3,4,5,10 with 3,4,5,10 ($18)
• 20-cent superfecta 3 with 4,5,10 with 4,5,10 with all ($8.40)

The daughter of More Than Ready was a $235,000 weanling purchase and didn’t disappoint in her unveiling when dominating maiden foes at Saratoga last summer. She finished fourth in the 2023 Frizette S. (G1) to cap her abbreviated juvenile campaign, and the dark bay returned to the winner's circle in the spring at Churchill Downs following a powerful allowance triumph off the layoff. 

She won a pair of subsequent stakes races, led by a triumph in the Victory Ride S. (G3), prior to coming home a clear second behind the excellent Ways and Means in the Test S. (G1) in August. Tyler Gaffalione will pilot the formidable favorite. 

For those looking to upend the morning-line choice, I feel that there are a few solid alternatives to that filly. Grade 2 heroine #3 My Mane Squeeze (4-1), the second choice on the morning line, is a classy lass who fits well in this particular event. Conditioned by Mike Maker, the New York-bred daughter of Audible was a facile winner of the Dogwood S. (G3) beneath the Twin Spires most recently and dons a 5-2-1-2 lifetime line at seven panels. The accomplished dark bay owns five stakes wins from 12 career showings and will be a huge threat from off the pace with Luis Saez retaining the ride. 

If the Saffie Joseph-trained #10 Haulin Ice (12-1) duplicates her dominant score in the Azalea S. at Gulfstream Park from the summer, then the Arkansas-bred will be a major factor at a nice number. By Coal Front, the sophomore didn’t handle the unique Charles Town oval in her latest assignment but comes in fresh for this dash, and I’m willing to give her a pass for the subpar try in her latest endeavor. Luan Machado has the call. 

#4 Twirling Queen (10-1) rides in on a four-race win streak for Jose d’Angelo and will move to the main oval in the dash. I’m not certain that the daughter of Twirling Candy will be as effective on dirt as she is on the green and synthetic, but she figures to take the lead early while stretching out from five furlongs, and her bullet morning move on the surface gives me a level of confidence as well. She’s worth a chance at a big price.