Holiday hunk Red Raven smokes Ireland’s Crock Of Gold(G1)
Ireland– Trainer Given must keep a wall-calendar just outside Red Raven’s stall, because the 5yo son of Touch Gold has sure turned into a horse for the holidays. On Valentine’s Day weekend, Red Raven spoiled the lovefest going on in the turf sprint division’s Vermont Is 4 Lovers(G2). The explosive speedster eeked out a whistler over leading one-turners Seekin Destroy and Cronus.
Perhaps Given drew a big red heart around the calendar’s February 14th block for Red Raven to marvel at or something, because, boy, the horse sure ran like gangbusters for St. Patrick’s Day in the Grade 1 $500,000 Crock Of Gold. Talk about running for your feed or (in Red Raven’s case) running for a green shamrock sketch!
Like a schoolkid gleeful over a gold star sticker on his math test, it doesn’t take much to reward Red Raven these days. Give the horse some clear sailing up front and he’ll fight tooth-and-nail for the winner’s circle. He doesn’t care which division either — Red Raven dispatched milers this time around in the Crock Of Gold. Red-hot jockey Nate Schreiber (himself riding a neat 20% win clip this season at Ireland) gave Red Raven the boot out of the gate and let the old boy loose on the lead.
Mild longshots Oh Hell Yeah and Kiwi Mountain tried to make pace with Red Raven for a bit, but it was all over by the half-mile pole. Red Raven was too much in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit — perhaps the horse imagined himself parade marshal. You know, like to the tune of “When The Saints Go Marching In” — it was his duty to march up front and play the part of band leader. Schreiber even twirled his whip like a baton as Red Raven cruised under the wire three lengths on top. Given stable’s lion red-n-black silks stood out mightily against the sea of emerald grassy green.
Red Raven stiopped the timer in a gorgeous 1:34 flat, recording a 111 SP#. Flagdown’s hard-knocking Shouldn’t Matter(IRE) won a three-way photo for second over Waremblem’s closer Wars Of Empire and Keely’s Kiwi Mountain.
Been a long time coming for Red Raven. He currently rides a 4-race win streak dating back to December. The horse has really come around for trainer Given after showing flashes of brilliance here and there during his first three years of racing. However, it’s unclear whether or not Red Raven is indeed at the pinnacle of his career now or is just warming up at 28 career starts. Regardless, one thing’s for certain: you better study your calendars turf sprint and turf miler divisioners! I’d probably avoid holidays from here on out if I were you!
The Crock Of Gold(G1) is part of the Ireland residency’s year-long festival of racing. Thanks for supporting the Sim, Forty Shades of Green!!