October 21, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Rave Reviews
A Lamar Jackson-esque effort in the $350,000 Raven Run (G2) landed Emery her fourth win from five tries in 2024.
The 6-5 closing line choice made good on her lofty billing with a silky smooth seven furlong jaunt across Keeneland’s dirt course.
Leaving from post five, Emery and rider Tyler Gaffalione showed incredible poise and patience to let the race develop before making a perfectly timed push to the front of the pack for their second graded stakes title as a duo (Grade 3 Victory Ride on Jul. 4).
The textbook score returned $4.50 on a $2 win bet.
From the Rafters!
Scratches to Grade 1 stakes winner Locked (Breeders’ Futurity) and multiple stakes winner Who Dey heavily skewed the $259,000 Perryville (G3) in Book’em Danno’s (3-5) favor.
The key absences also opened the door for a lesser-known competitor by the name of Brunacini to draw into the seven-furlong affair… and what a move it turned out to be.
Sent off 28-1, the 3-year-old colt stunned the Keeneland faithful by holding off the overwhelming favorite by a neck to secure his first graded trophy.
Brunacini’s breakout performance paid a whopping $58.16.
Keep on Row-llin’
Dresden Row stayed in the win column with a narrow half-length Ontario Derby (G3) triumph on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.
That makes it two in a row now for the 3-year-old colt, who’s been on a steady run since taking last month’s Durham Cup (G3) at 10-1.
Expectations were much different this time around, as evidenced by the 6-5 designation, but Dresden Row had little trouble rewarding bettors’ faith.
The Lorne Richards trainee’s fifth career trip to the winner’s circle (8: 5-1-2) paid $4.40.
A Worthy Distinction
Rated by Merit certainly earned the role of overwhelming favorite in Saturday’s $200,000 Affirmed Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Heading out of the gate at 1-5, the burgeoning star stayed perfect through three lifetime starts with a front-leading 3 ¾-length score.
Winning at staggering margins has been the norm for Rated by Merit, who took the Dr. Fager Stakes (first leg of the 2024 FTBOA Florida Sires Stakes series) by 6 1/4 lengths last time out.
The grey can become the 11th colt or gelding to sweep the series with a win in the In Reality on Nov. 30.
Rated by Merit paid a modest $2.40 in the Affirmed.
Familiar Territory
Chop Chop picked up right where she left off in her return to Keeneland, claiming the $300,000 Dowager (G3T) in a spirited battle with 18-1 challenger Forever After All.
It ended a lot closer than initially anticipated, but the 4-year-old filly was able to prevail by a nose to snag her second career graded title – the first of which came at Keeneland in April’s Bewitch (G3).
The timely triumph put an end to a four-race winless drought that began after the Bewitch.
Now standing at 2-4-1 on the year through eight starts, Chop Chop also exceeded the $1 million career earnings mark on Sunday afternoon.
The hard-fought Dowager victory paid $9.62.
