Barnes dominates in Perryville

LC Racing, Cash is King and trainer Butch Reid’s Wellesley Stable’s 27-1 longshot Kappa Kappa battled back in deep stretch to edge Vodka With a Twist by a head to win the 27th running of the $400,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Earlier on the program, Zedan Racing Stables’ Barnes cruised to an 8 1/4-length victory over favored Captain Cook to win the 17th running $350,000 Perryville (G3) for 3-year-olds.

In the Lexus Raven Run, Kappa Kappa rushed to the front out of the gate but was quickly joined to her inside by Delightful Claire and Usha with Vodka With a Twist tracking in fourth through opening fractions of :22.81 and :45.94.

At the top of the stretch, Kappa Kappa shook off her early competition only to be confronted by Vodka With a Twist, who surged to a narrow advantage passing the eighth pole. Kappa Kappa dug back in on the inside and regained the advantage in the shadow of the wire.

Kappa Kappa completed the 7 furlongs in 1:23.90 and gave jockey John Velazquez his fourth win in this race and sixth stakes victory of the Fall Meet. Velazquez also won the Lexus Raven Run in 2023 with Vahva, 2012 with Gypsy Robin and 2008 with Informed Decision.

Now owning a 4-3-1-0 record after notching her first stakes victory, Kappa Kappa is a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Pharoah’s Princess and is a Keeneland sales graduate. With Saturday’s $174,375 check, she increased her earnings to $278,375.

Kappa Kappa returned a stakes-record $56.06 win payoff plus $24.30 and $9.54 to place and show. Vodka With a Twist, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $14.42 and $6.16 and finished a half-length in front of the fast-finishing favorite Ragtime, who paid $2.70 to show under Junior Alvarado.

It was another 1½ lengths back to Om N Joy with Delightful Claire, Maida, Usha, Quietside, Simply Joking and Tetiaroa following in order.

Barnes wins Perryville by 8¼ lengths

In the five-horse Perryville for 3-year-olds, Barnes turned it into a one-horse race by grabbing the lead at the top of the stretch and powering to an 8¼-length victory over Captain Cook.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Barnes completed the 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.45. For Baffert, it is his third victory in the race with the previous wins coming in 2006 with Midnight Lute and in the inaugural running in 1999 with National Saint.

Taylor’s Version set the pace through fractions of :21.69 and :44.18 with Barnes stalking just to his outside. Approaching the far turn, Ortiz moved Barnes closer and then took charge at the top of the stretch and drew off.

Barnes is a Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the American Pharoah mare All American Dream. Now a two-time graded stakes winner, Barnes improved his record to 7-3-1-1 and boosted his earnings to $557,750 with Saturday’s $217,000 check.

Barnes returned $5.22, $2.58 and $2.16. Captain Cook, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., easily claimed second and returned $2.78 and $2.10 with Owen Almighty finishing another 4½ lengths back in third and returning $2.78 under Luis Saez.

Rolando and Taylor’s Version completed the order of finish.

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Racing continues Sunday with a nine-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET and headlined by the 34th running of the $350,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) for fillies and mares going 1½ miles on the grass.