Weekend Stakes Races: Grade II Lexus Raven Run and Grade III Harold C. Remer Sr. Stakes

Race-times: Lexus Raven Run at 5:13 pm EST and Harold C. Remer Sr. at 7:00 pm EST

This week’s weekend graded stakes races take place at Keeneland and Santa Anita.

Santa Anita, the host of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, and Keeneland have both run their biggest Breeders’ Cup prep races but still offer terrific thoroughbred betting action on Saturday.

The highlight of the Keeneland card is Race 9, the Grade II Lexus Raven Run. The highlight of the Santa Anita card is Race 8, the Grade III Harold C. Remer Sr. Stakes.

Let’s take a look at both races.

Keeneland – Race 9

Grade II Lexus Raven Run

$300,000

For Fillies, Three Years Old

7 furlongs on Polytrack

Sky Haven was last seen chasing Indian Blessing and Sara Louise in a Grade II at Belmont. The Steve Asmussen trained miss lost by only 3 ½ lengths that day and finished third. Now, she returns to an all weather surface where she is 2 and 1 out of 3 lifetime races. Sky Haven deserves a long shot’s chance at the 8 to 1 morning line odds.Let’s put her on top. Flashing followed up her Grade I win in the Test with a third place finish at 6 ½ furlongs in a Grade III at Presque Isle Downs. The Saeed Bin Suroor, Godolphin owned filly, faces a much easier field than the Test and returns to 7 furlongs, a distance she is 2 for 2 at. Just Jenda, out of the Larry Jones’ barn, should get a perfect trip from the 2 hole. It’s hard to bet against Jones, but Just Jenda has never run over an all weather surface before.

1. Sky Haven
2. Flashing
3. Just Jenda

Santa Anita – - Race 8

Grade III Harold C. Remer Sr. Stakes

$100,000

For Fillies, Three Years Old

1 mile on turf

The Bobby Flay owned Mrs Kipling was overmatched in the Grade I American Oaks in July, but now returns in a Grade III that she actually could do very well in. In fact, she should probably win returning to an easier spot and at a distance that she has been successful running at. Flay should end up in the winner’s circle with this filly on Saturday.

Century Park was terrific on Cal Cup Day and now goes back to a mile distance where she has had limited success. She does get the rail, though, and there is hardly any other speed in this race. She could take the lead or run just off. There is a huge upside to Team Valor’s Minute Limit who is 2 and 2 out of 5 lifetime races. Trainer John Sadler has put in some decent works into the filly since her last race in August and jockey Joel Rosario rides her for the third time.

1. Mrs Kipling
2. Century Park
3. Minute Limit