Keertana faces boys in Louisville

Keertana has finished off-the-board only four times from her 25 starts (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Multiple Grade 3 queen Keertana will take on boys for the
first time in her 25-race career when she lines up in the gate of
Saturday’s $100,000 Grade 3

Louisville at Churchill Downs. The dark bay mare will break
from post 4 under jockey Jose Lezcano in the field of 10 while going 1
1/2 miles in her second straight race.

The Tom Proctor trainee first tried 12 furlongs on April 28 at
Keeneland, where she pulled off a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Bewitch over yielding ground. The five-year-old has plenty of experience
winning on firm turf as well, taking Grade 3 The Very One at Gulfstream
in February and last year’s Grade 3 Glens Falls at Saratoga, and loves
the Matt Winn Turf Course. She just missed by a half-length when third
in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf under the Twin
Spires, and also placed third in the Grade 3 Mint Julep last June.

Musketier captured the Elkhorn one day after Keertana’s Bewitch victory (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Only one horse has been assigned more than Keertana, and that contender is
recent Grade 2 Elkhorn victor Musketier, who will carry 122
pounds including jockey Jesus Castanon. The gray only raced three times in 2010,
taking that year’s edition of the Elkhorn as well as placing in the Grade 3 Sycamore. The Roger Attfield veteran has already run that many times this season,
placing in both the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida and Grade 3 Pan American to start his
nine-year-old campaign. Musketier will be trying Churchill’s turf for the first
time in this spot, but has already proven his ability at winning over 1 1/2
miles.

Looking to defend his title in the Louisville will be Free Fighter, who has been well-beaten his two tries so far this year.
The chestnut gelding hasn’t won since taking this race a year ago but
will be getting the services of Churchill veteran rider Calvin Borel
this time around.