Stonestreet Stables' Emery continued to prove herself as one of the nation's top female sprinters as the year draws to a close. She picked up her fourth win in five starts this season Oct. 19 with an eye-catching score in the $340,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2), improving her career earnings to $655,986.
"She's really come along nice," said regular rider Tyler Gaffalione. "She keeps improving every race. She's getting bigger, stronger, more confident. I think we're going to have a big year next year."
The 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready suffered her first defeat at a distance under one mile in the Aug. 3 Test Stakes (G1). However, she still ran gallantly to finish second by 2 1/2 lengths to Ways and Means, a leading contender for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.
Prior to the Test, which was her third race in eight weeks, Emery had won the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"We asked a lot of her in the spring and the summer, and we targeted this race once she ran a big race in the Test," trainer Brad Cox said. "She rewarded us today for being patient with her, very proud of her."
Breaking sharp in the middle of the 10-horse field, Emery easily carried Gaffalione into contention behind pacesetting Twirling Queen. Fibber made an early bid at the lead, pressing Twirling Queen to set fractions of :22.53 and :45.29. Meanwhile, Gaffalione sat just two lengths behind with a loaded tank beneath him.
"It was pretty simple," Gaffalione said of the ride. "She broke, she put herself in the game. I put my hands down and she relaxed beautifully. When I called on her at the top of the lane she did the job well. I just had to steer her around there."
Emery ranged up with ease to take the lead at the quarter pole. Fibber presented a battle until the final furlong when Emery drew away, winning by two lengths while completing seven furlongs in 1:23.21 and paying $4.50.
Multiple graded stakes winner My Mane Squeeze, who was third in the Test, raced last early but came with a stretch drive to finish second. Fibber held for third.
"It was a tough trip," said My Mane Squeeze's rider Luis Saez. "She was behaving a little mean in the gate and she didn't break that well. ... It was a good second."
Bred in Kentucky by Mary Grum, Emery was purchased as a weanling from the Nursery Place consignment by Stonestreet for $235,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Out of the multiple stakes-winning Street Sense mare Athena, Emery is by WinStar Farm's influential international sire More Than Ready, who died in 2022.
