A Raving Beauty makes all in First Lady with Indian Blessing back in third

Keeneland: First Lady Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m | 3yo+ F&M | turf

A Raving Beauty returned to winning ways in the $400,000 Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, with the Ed Walker-trained Indian Blessing finishing third under Fergal Lynch.

A Raving Beauty, trained by Chad Brown, held off a late challenge from Dona Bruja, to win by a head.

"I thought it worked out pretty good," said jockey John Velazquez. "Obviously, being on the inside [from post two], we wanted to be close and wanted to make sure she was settling. We came out running, got our position, and after that it was pretty good."

Indian Blessing, who was bumped at the start and pushed to the back of the pack, rallied up the straight to take third. Walker wrote on Twitter: “Frustrated but delighted with Indian Blessing flying home from last to finish third in the First Lady at Keeneland under Fergal Lynch.”

As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, A Raving Beauty secured an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 3 at Churchill Downs.

Also on Saturday

Keeneland: Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade 1) | 1m | 3yo+ | turf

Despite being dismissed by the betting public at 23-1, Next Shares prevailed against some proven Graded stakes performers when scoring by three and a quarter lengths under Tyler Gaffalione.

"I had a lot of horse while I was getting there; I was just hoping it would stay open long enough," Gaffalione said. "Credit to the trainer [Richard Baltas] and the owners. They did a great job with him - I just had to hang on. I was a little closer [to the pace] than I thought I would be, but he was running so easily, I didn't want to take anything away from him."

Keeneland: Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Grade 1) | 1m½f | 2yo | dirt

Knicks Go pulled off a shock 70-1 victory in the Grade 1 Futurity Stakes, making all to score by five and a half lengths and earning himself a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on November 2.

Keeneland: Woodford Stakes (Grade 2) | 5½f | 3yo+ | turf

Bucchero, fifth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, recorded back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes with a game success and is on course for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on November 3.

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