Lexus Raven Run Winner Caramel Swirl Returns to Churchill Downs

Godolphin’s Caramel Swirl, narrow winner of Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run (G2) over Joy’s Rocket, returned to Churchill Downs Saturday night to trainer Bill Mott’s barn.

The victory kept Caramel Swirl’s record at Keeneland perfect as she had posted a 10¼-length maiden-breaking score here in April.

The Lexus Raven Run also featured another bang-up effort by Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Joy’s Rocket, who in her other Keeneland start posted a 3-length victory in the Songbird Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup undercard last November.

“It was a head bob; her head was up and the other filly had her head down at the wire,” said Ronny Werner, assistant to Joy’s Rocket’s trainer, Steve Asmussen. “She is fine this morning. She ran hard. She loves this track and she showed it when she won that stakes last year.”