TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Pedigree Ann — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:07:19 GMT

I always root for Eden Prairie because while I was in high school, my mom taught third grade in a Catholic school out in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Couldn't teach in public schools because her degree was in music performance and her experience of 20 years of leading children's choirs didn't count for anything.

In my day, Eden Prairie was a lot of empty space with small clusters of settlements. Not the same now I would guess.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Little Bill — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 02:56:33 GMT

Phil- Good to know. I was surprised she got pounded at windows, even off a win. Must have been your flow players gangin' up on her.

Mrs Revere Stakes at CD 11/16 might make sense.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 22:31:38 GMT

Fugue saw what was indeed a very strong Closer Bias (to use the conventional term) in play at Keeneland on Saturday. Combine that with the modest Closer's Flow of the Raven Run and you have yourself a true 'Quick to Zip' upgrade in Edens Prairie.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:15:42 GMT

Rusty -

No blame or excuses. Pretty sure the race will come back Closer favoring. If so, she'll carry the bold grade.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Rusty Weisner — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 02:47:16 GMT

Plod Boy Phil,

He was in the 14 (?) post. I thought the jockey ran a good race, getting his horse clear before the turn when he was 4-wide on the backstretch. I don't know the typical times for this track, but sub-45 looked awfully fast to me. The horse really did run his lifetime best. Great call.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:17:40 GMT

Good luck us then.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Mary Zinke — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 19:38:02 GMT

I like her, too, Phil, and 4,8,10.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 18:13:28 GMT

Sunday Keeneland Race 8

6 Valiant Girl (12-1) - I can't really get myself to believe that the G1 Flower Bowl was the goal for her. The upside of the placement was her being forced to rate behind much better horses in a Speed favoring scenario - the kind of effort that will add greatly to her condition. If she's going to be good, she'll show it today.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 22:27:11 GMT

Rusty -

Few horses beat Ben's Cat, never mind humans. Well done.

good times

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 22:09:56 GMT

Robbie could might have maybe not opened up so soon?

No matter. Next.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Little Bill — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 21:52:43 GMT

Nice call Phil. Tough to do what that one tried on that track.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Rusty Weisner — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 21:36:39 GMT

Plod Boy Phil,

Nice one. Some ML.

I beat Ben's Cat. I also thought JuJu Eyeballs was beatable, and even circled the 13-1 winner who beat mine in the last jumps, but didn't bet her. Didn't try against Eighttofasttocatch, so missed out on well-paying 50-cent P3 and P4, considering the chalk: $100 and $358. Argh.

Breeder's Cup next!

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Mary Zinke — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 18:57:45 GMT

Your girl is worth a small bet for me, Phil, GL. I also like Irish Lute in the Raven's Run.

7,5,2,8 in the California Flag.

Dolly in the Miss America, but their 20-1 wouldn't surprise me. 1-5 could do this on their best days.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:29:46 GMT

Good luck today Rusty.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Rusty Weisner — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:57:39 GMT

Plod Boy Phil,

I don't play Keeneland, but I am tempted to play that horse out of the blue. I think piggybacking on your pick would be bad karma, though, so I'll stick to wishing you luck. Now, give me back Ron the Greek...

I may make the second half of the Maryland Millions card, where my only "pick" is to try to beat crowd favorite Ben's Cat stretching out to mile with the 7 or the 9. The feature race is lopsided, with Eighttofasttocatch not looking beatable here unless the dull effort last out was a sign of something wrong. Maybe I'll play the 3yo, Seventeenohsix, who was competitive in a Preakness prep at this distance.

re: TimeformUS Weekend Plays: The Raven Run

Plod Boy Phil — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 19:06:39 GMT

Raven Run

14 Eden Prairie (30-1) looks from my seat to be prepped for a lifetime best.

Her last, a modestly upgraded and visually impressive win in her synthetics debut at 7f, came on the turn back following a series of speed upgrades out of turf routes with Closer favoring Flows. Of those races, none was more impressive than the 8f G3 Appalachian in April in which she moved early into a Closers Flow, appeared swallowed turning for home, then gamely battled back to the wire. This is the race, in my opinion, that stamps her as both classy and talented enough to be deserving of a confident wager at robust odds.