Horse Racing
Vance Hanson 12y

Great Hot holds on in Raven Run

Horse Racing

Jessica Coudelaria's homebred Great Hot overcame a rough beginning to prevail over a fast-charging Groupie Doll in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland. Bumped and squeezed from both sides leaving the gate, Great Hot recovered sufficiently to race forwardly amongst rivals down the backside. After waiting for a tiring rival to retreat around the far turn, the three-year-old filly seized position along the rail approaching the quarter pole and made her advancement through the stretch. She grabbed a narrow lead with yards to go and just held off Groupie Doll, who was charging out in the middle of the track.

Under Chantal Sutherland, Great Hot prevailed by a head in a time of 1:21 3/5 over the Polytrack. She paid $10.40, $5.40 and $3.80. Groupie Doll, who had defeated older mares in the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes in her stakes debut in August, raced near the back early, advanced with a six-wide rally rounding the turn, and just failed to reach the winner. She had a half-length on 76-1 chance Dr. Diamonds Prize, a 76-1 chance who led for six furlongs through splits of :22, :44 3/5 and 1:08 4/5. Leg-weary from her exertions, Dr. Diamonds Prize drifted out into 7-2 favorite Mizdirection in the final yards and was eventually demoted from third to fourth for that interference.

Strike the Moon was only a head behind Mizdirection at the finish and thus barely missed hitting the board herself. She was followed by Funny Sunny, Button Girl, Hot Summer, Ms. Cruisen', Grandacious, Honey Chile and Roman Treasure. Long Lake Krista was scratched.

After a winning debut in her native Brazil a year ago, the A.C. Avila-trained Great Hot was imported to the U.S. and proved to be an immediate success when taking an allowance at Santa Anita on March 27. Sidelined nearly four months, Great Hot reappeared in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on grass but could only finish fifth.

Third in the Sandy Blue Handicap on turf next out, Great Hot got back to winning ways in the September 3 Torrey Pines Stakes, her third start of the Del Mar meet. In that one-mile test on Polytrack, Great Hot rallied from four lengths down to win by three parts of a length.

Last time, in the Grade 1 Lady's Secret Stakes, Great Hot finished two lengths third behind the top three-year-old filly Zazu, with Grade 1 winner Ultra Blend finishing in between. Great Hot's record now stands at 7-4-0-2, $291,265.

Great Hot was produced by the winning Seeking the Gold mare That's Hot. Her third dam, Island Kitty, produced Grade 1 winner and sire Hennessy, Grade 1 winner Pearl City, and multiple Grade 3 winner Shy Tom. Further back, this family produced 1985 champion juvenile filly Family Style, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note, European champion Hold That Tiger, and Grade 1 winners Field Cat and Lost Kitty.

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