Gulfstream: Keertana, Hit It Rich hard to separate in Orchid

[bc_video_id:247626:]Keertana and Hit It Rich may vie for favoritism in the $150,000 Orchid on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 3 event for older fillies and mares will be run at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Keertana has been a model of consistency for trainer Tom Proctor and is coming off a second-place finish behind Here to Win in defense of her title in the Grade 3 The Very One earlier in the meet. The Very One was one of three graded stakes victories for Keertana in 2011.

Hit it Rich stretches out after missing a half-length to Keertana’s stablemate Snow Top Mountain in the Grade 3 Suwannee River on Feb. 11. Hit It Rich won the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in her 2011 finale.

Other key contenders in the Orchid include Woodford Belle, a wide-running third in The Very One, and the undefeated Aqsaam, who tries stakes company for the first time after running off three straight victories to open her career.

[FLORIDA DERBY: Video previews, watch Saturday's full card live]