Lady Prancealot (IRE) Triumphs in Pin Oak Valley View

Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone and Jerry McClanahan’s Lady Prancealot (IRE) shot past favored Blowout (GB) in deep stretch to win the 29^th running of the $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length before a Friday afternoon crowd of 17,166.

Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Joe Bravo, Lady Prancealot covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated as good in 1:43.25.

Bravo earned his third victory in the race following Mingling Glances in 1997 and Colonia (FR) in 2018. He is the third rider, joining Pat Day and Donna Barton Brothers, to win the race in consecutive years.

Blowout grabbed the lead out of the gate and led the field of 14 through fractions of :23.72 and :48.26 as Bravo was content to race back in 10^th running in the two path.

On the far turn, Lady Prancealot swung to the outside and began picking off horses and hitting the top of the stretch widest of all. With clear running, Lady Prancealot collared Blowout inside the sixteenth pole and drew off for the victory.

For Lady Prancealot, a daughter of Sir Prancealot (IRE) out of the Haatef mare Naqrah (IRE), the victory was worth $90,000 and improved her earnings to $367,841 with a record of 16-4-4-3. It is her second Grade 3 victory with her initial stakes triumph coming in the Honeymoon at Santa Anita in June.

Lady Prancelot returned $22.60, $7.60 and $5.20. Blowout, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $3.60 and $3 in finishing a nose in front of The Mackem Bullet (IRE), who paid $6.40 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Catch a Bid, who was followed in order by Dalika (GER), Wildlife, Maxim Rate, Hard Legacy, Carnival Colors (GB), Winter Sunset, Princess Causeway, Turf War, Story Time and Solar Kitten.

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On Friday, Keeneland hosted thousands of college students for College Scholarship Day, which awarded 18 scholarships worth a total of $70,000 – more than double the $30,000 offered in the past. Full-time students registered to win scholarships and prizes from local vendors in the College Zone and took part in other activities.

For the 2019 Fall Meet, Keeneland and the KTA increased their combined scholarship contribution from $10,000 to $20,000. Drawings for a $2,000 scholarship were held after each of the day’s 10 races. 

Two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships, presented by Jim and Linda McIngvale, whose champion Runhappy stands at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, were awarded to Caleb Reams and Aubrey Zahuranec.

For the first time, six Thoroughbred industry partners – in conjunction with Amplify, a grassroots effort to promote horse racing to young people – each awarded a $5,000 scholarship for a combined $30,000. Scholarships come with exclusive farm experiences. Winners were Maxwell Chambers (presented by Claiborne Farm), Elizabeth Chapleu (Taylor Made Farm), Susanna Dowler (Paramount Sales), Sydney Fugate (Solis/Litt Bloodstock), Shey Resendiz (Glen Hill Farm) and  Libby Walter (Hinkle Farms).

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Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. The afternoon feature is the 21^st running of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs on the main track. The Lexus Raven Run, the day’s ninth race, has a 5:30 post time.