Ayra Stark (ARG) asserted herself early and led each step of the best way to defeat Venencia (FR) by 2¾ lengths in Saturday’s thirteenth working of the $209,000 Keertana Stakes (L) at Churchill Downs.
Named for a well-liked character within the hit HBO collection “Game of Thrones”, Ayra Stark stopped the teletimer in 2:27.89 for 1½ miles on turf rated pretty much as good. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for coach Horacio De Paz and proprietor Raymond Montgomery’s Haymarket Farms LLC.
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With the turf rails positioned 12 toes out, Ayra Stark broke nicely from put up 2 within the subject of seven fillies and mares and dictated the tempo in quarter-mile fractions of :24.79, :49.94, 1:15.04. 1:40.50, and a pair of:04.55. Virgin Colada tracked in second early on and bought inside a half-length of Ayra Stark halfway across the last flip, however the winner had a lot left and spurted clear. She was by no means challenged down the stretch.
“The course was labeled good today and I thought it was in good shape out there after the (Friday and Saturday morning) rain,” Ortiz stated. “My plan going into the race was if we broke well to go to the lead, that’s what she seems to do best even though she can sit off the pace if need be. There wasn’t a whole lot of speed in the race. It worked out just to plan. I was able to get her to relax down the backside and had plenty of horse left when I turned for home and asked her to pick it up. She’s a very nice mare and anything between a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half distance suits her very well. It was good to see her win a race like this.”
The win was price $121,520 and improved the profession earnings of Maryland-based Ayra Stark (ARG) to $362,653 with a report of 7-4-1 from 16 begins. This was the primary stakes win within the United States for Ayra Stark who gained the Group 2 Ramon Biaus at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo in her native Argentina in 2024.
Ayra Stark (ARG), who beforehand completed second within the $150,000 Orchid (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park on March 28, returned $4.24 for the win because the even-money favourite. Venencia (FR), at 11-1 below Vincent Cheminaud, outfinished Way to Be Marie, ridden by Luis Saez by a neck again for second.
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Golden Sunshine was fourth and was adopted by Virgin Colada, Awesomesauce and Queens Command (IRE). Sultana was scratched.
Ayra Stark (ARG), a 6-year-old daughter of Cosmic Tiger (ARG) out of the Exchange Rate mare Delfia, was bred in Argentina by Marovi S.A.
The race is known as for Barbara Hunter’s homebred Keertana, who gained 4 of her 9 begins at Churchill Downs, together with a nostril conquer males within the $111,200 Louisville Handicap (G3) in 2011. She additionally gained the 2009 Regret (G3) by a neck. Overall, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Johar out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks gained 11 of 29 begins between 2008-12 – together with six stakes – and $1,031,938 whereas below the care of coach Tom Proctor. In 2010, she was crushed a half-length when third behind Shared Account and Midday within the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) beneath the Twin Spires.
This story was initially revealed by Paulick Report on May 23, 2026, the place it first appeared within the News part. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.