Keeneland stakes on agenda for Orseno pair

Trainer Joe Orseno is pointing a pair of Gulfstream Park turf sprint winners, Beauty of the Sea and Etrurian, to races at Keeneland.

He said Beauty of the Sea is targeting the Grade 2, $350,000 Franklin. The 5 1/2-furlong turf race for fillies and mares is Oct. 13.

Beauty of the Sea blazed five furlongs in 54.43 seconds winning an overnight handicap in April, then went on to win the Goldwood at Monmouth Park and the Andy Guest at Colonial Downs.

“She has shipped to Churchill Downs,” said Orseno, who for the first time this fall will have a division of runners stabled in Kentucky.

Etrurian put on a display of sheer speed Sept. 13, when she won a five-furlong allowance on good turf in 56.02 seconds. Etrurian jumped out to the lead and set fractions of 21.58 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.33 for the half-mile while making her turf debut.

“She handled the turf like I thought she would and she just went about her business,” Orseno said. “She was getting over it with ease. It was a big race from her, definitely the next step we were looking for.”

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Etrurian has now won her last three starts by a combined margin of 7 1/2 lengths, with her prior two wins coming on Tapeta at Gulfstream. She will ship to Kentucky closer to her next start, said Orseno. One option for her is the $130,000 Speaker’s Corner, which is for 3-year-old fillies who have not won a graded stakes on turf. It’s at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

Etrurian, who is co-owned by Orseno, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81 last out.

“She has no quit in her,” Orseno said. “So far, she’s handled every test we’ve tried.”

Etrurian and Beauty of the Sea are both by Bucchero. Orseno has another Gulfstream winner by the stallion in Mattingly.

Mattingly last raced Aug. 11 and finished fifth in the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial. Orseno said the decision was made to give the 3-year-old about six weeks off, then return to Gulfstream.

“He’s about ready to come in from his little rest,” Orseno said. “As he starts to get ready, we’ll map out a campaign.”

Mattingly won the Hollywood Beach last September at Gulfstream.

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