Courtesan wins stretch battle to score in Keertana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Irrespective of whether a long turf race is held in New York, Florida, California, or Kentucky, when trainer Christophe Clement runs a horse in such a race, he means business.

That tendency was on display Saturday in the first of two divisions of the $65,000 Keertana Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, when the Clement-trained Courtesan ran down a stubborn pacesetter to notch her first stakes win since her 2-year-old year in 2013.

Well placed throughout under Corey Lanerie, Courtesan sat second early in the 1 3/8-mile Keertana on a “good” Churchill Downs turf course and proved superior in the stretch, inching by the pace-setting First Romance in the final furlong to win by a neck. The favored Maria Maria was 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third.

Winning jockey Corey Lanerie said he received perfect instructions from Clement, who told him she was steady paced and needed to be within striking distance. So Lanerie did just that, letting her place herself in a forward position.

Even so, the race proved to be a battle, as First Romance, who raced untested on the lead under Francisco Torres, held gamely and proved difficult to pass. She “made me work the last part of the race,” Lanerie said.

The winner, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Sense who had been fourth in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeenland last month, raced 1 3/8 miles in 2:17.11 She paid $8.60 as the second favorite in the field of 10.

Ceisteach wins second division of Keertana

The second division of the $65,000 Keertana fittingly went to Ceisteach, trained by Tom Proctor, who also conditioned Keertana, the millionaire mare for whom the stakes was named.

Showing more speed with the stretch out to a three-turn turf contest, she shot to the lead under Channing Hill, and after setting legitimate fractions, she spurted clear in the stretch and outlasted strong stretch bids from the runner-up Eastern Belle and the favored Walk Close.

The winner, a 4-year-old daughter of New Approach, raced 1 3/8 miles on a “good” turf course in 2:16.96. She paid $21.20.

Winning jockey Channing Hill said the key to the race was coming into the lane.

“At t the quarter pole was probably when she made winning move, sprinted away from them,” he said.

He said she idled a bit in the late going, which contributed to lasting for only a half-length win.

Eastern Belle narrowly outfinished Walk Close by a nose for the place while rallying down the middle of the course, as opposed to the inside-closing Walk Close.