2022 Raven Run Stakes morning line odds, picks: Horse racing writer has best bets for Saturday's race

Nine of the country's fastest 3-year-old fillies will try to add a Grade 2 win to their résumé when the starting gate opens in the 2022 Raven Run Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The Rob Atras-trained Smash Ticket has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Raven Run odds. Fingal's Cave, who is a perfect 4-for-4 in her career, and Wicked Halo are the co-second choices, at 4-1 in the nine-horse Raven Run field. Post time is 5:16 p.m. ET.

With an accomplished field set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any Raven Run picks.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.

Now, Menez has handicapped the field for the Raven Run, made his picks and formulated his bets.

One surprise: Menez's top pick is not Smash Ticket, even though she is the 5-2 favorite. "If she's able to carry her speed an additional furlong while taking the hounding from Union Lake, she's the most likely winner, but that's a lot to ask," Menez told SportsLine.

Instead, Menez's top pick is a longshot who will be "value" at half her price. He also is high on another filly who "should be plenty fit." He is including these horses in his wagers, and so should you. You NEED to see which horses they are before making any picks of your own.

So who wins the Raven Run? Which longshot is a must-back? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get Raven Run picks and wagers, all from the expert who once cashed for $6,900 on Kentucky Derby Saturday!