Friendly Michelle Makes Her Keeneland Debut

Friendly Michelle has won at four of the five tracks where she has raced for owner Ed Friendly and trainer Bob Baffert.

The 3-year-old Artax filly has won at Del Mar, Santa Anita, Churchill Downs and Belmont Park. The only place where she hasn’t been successful is Saratoga. Friendly Michelle made one appearance there during the summer, finishing fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Test.

This afternoon, Friendly Michelle will make her Keeneland debut against nine others in the $200,000 Raven Run at seven furlongs.

The 123-pound high-weight in the Grade II, Friendly Michelle, who was purchased for $77,000 as a yearling, will be ridden for the first time by Pat Day and she drew the outside post for her first race since July 31.

Silver Crown is the only one of Friendly Michelle’s opponents who has won at Keeneland. The gray daughter of Distorted Humor is two for two over the track, having won last Oct. 24 and earlier this year. She will leave from the inside post and will be ridden by James Graham.

Vision Of Beauty, Salty Romance, Format, Josh’s Madelyn, Miss Moses, Storm’s Darling, Dance Tune and Feline Story are also scheduled to participate in the Raven Run.

Race of the day: Special Rate will try for his second consecutive victory when he takes on Dell Place, Golden Arrow and four others in the seventh at Santa Anita. Jose Valdivia Jr. will ride Special Rate, a 4-year-old Pulpit colt, in the $53,000 optional claimer at one mile on the turf.

One for the road: Two Bayou looks like the controlling speed in the eighth at Belmont Park and can go wire-to-wire for the Flatbird Stable and trainer Patrick Reynolds.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Sport Boy Tommy and Barry The Law in the fourth, Old Man Boots, Legal Logic and Remonte in the fifth and Bull Headed Wynn in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/46. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17.20/$262.50. Total money bet: $224.