Kappa Kappa wins Keeneland thriller 27-1 at Raven Run

Photograph: Candice Chavez/Eclipse Sportswire

In a tense duel down the homestretch, heavyweight Kappa Kappa bowed within the end to attain a come-from-behind victory over Vodka With a Twist, 27-1, within the Grade 2, $400,000 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Keeneland.

Parkes-based Kappa Kappa additionally superior from the eligible checklist to the ultimate 10 spots thanks to 5 scratches. She was the third win in 4 races for coach Butch Reed and homeowners LC Racing, Money is King and Wellesley Stables.

After battling for tempo early within the seven-furlong race, jockeys Kappa Kappa and John Velazquez led a three-horse homestretch with Usha (3-1), educated by Bob Baffert, and Pleasant Claire (15-1), jockeyed by Phil Bauer.

Vodka With a Twist (20-1), ridden by Luis Saez, took a two-point lead from a hotly-chased fourth to the eighth pole. Holding the rail, Velasquez and Kappa Kappa didn’t allow them to go and ultimately took the lead for good within the shadow of the purpose line.

“She confirmed a lot coronary heart,” Velasquez stated. “She discovered herself on the three-sixteenths pole in entrance, and (Vodka With a Twist) handed her, then got here again and fought a great struggle. It was her first time right here (Keeneland), so I may see her wanting rather well from the three-eighths pole to the five-sixteenths pole. I used to be simply sort of ready for the horse in me to return to my head. And after we completed, She went to the quarter pole the place she was ready. She was shocked to see the horse exterior. Lastly I went again to the left hand and she or he responded nicely.”

After early splits of twenty-two.81, 45.94, and 1:10.75, Kappa Kappa received with a time of 1:23.90 on the quick primary observe, paying flats of $56.06, $24.30, and $9.54.

Vodka with a Twist, coached by Phil D’Amato, took second place, paying $14.42 and $6.16.

Coach Invoice Mott’s favourite this time, Ragtime (6 wins, 5 losses), bounced again from final place to complete third, half a size behind the highest two, and ridden by Junior Alvarado. She confirmed me the $2.70 again.

Om & Pleasure (12-1) took fourth place.

Vixen, Sturdy State, Volleyball Princess, Repute, and fellow goal Taliesin have been injured.

The $65,000 Omaha Seaside colt Kappa Kappa made his first three begins at Parks this summer season. She received her debut over six furlongs and was second with Allowance Smile, profitable by six lengths over six furlongs with the Pennsylvania-bred.

Reed stated Kappa Kappa confirmed them one thing slightly particular on their first journey to Keeneland.

“Positively gamey. That was the one factor,” he stated. “She has been beating horses fairly simply on the Philadelphia observe, so she actually confirmed the sort of competitiveness we have been hoping for at this time.”