Wicked Halo Tops Field of Nine for Saturday's Lexus Raven Run

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred Wicked Halo, winner of the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent start, heads a field of nine 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 24^th running of the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) going 7 furlongs on the main track.

One of two stakes scheduled on Saturday’s 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. ET, the Lexus Raven Run will go as the ninth race with a 5:16 p.m. post time.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Wicked Halo brings a three-race win streak into the Lexus Raven Run with two of the victories coming at Churchill Downs prior to the Prioress. Tyler Gaffalione, who has been aboard for all three victories, has the mount Saturday and will break from post position eight.

Enhancing the field are three invaders from New York.

Alifyfe Racing’s undefeated Fingal’s Cave ships in for trainer David Donk. The New York-bred daughter of Carpe Diem enters the Lexus Raven Run off a victory in the restricted Fleet Indian at Saratoga on Aug. 26. Joel Rosario has the mount and will break from post position five.

Trainer John Terranova II will send out two runners: Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld’s Delaware Oaks (G3) winner Midnight Stroll and Union Lake, who was third in the Prioress for Schoenfeld. Luis Saez has the call on Midnight Stroll and will break from post nine, while John Velazquez will be aboard Union Lake from post one.

The field for the Lexus Raven Run, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Union Lake (Velazquez, 118 pounds), Smash Ticket (Kendrick Carmouche, 120), Republique (Julien Leparoux, 120), Last Leaf (Martin Garcia, 118), Fingal’s Cave (Rosario, 120), Colorful Mischief (Gerardo Corrales, 120), Freedom Speaks (Florent Geroux, 120), Wicked Halo (Gaffalione, 120) and Midnight Stroll (Saez, 120).