Keertana goes for three in a row

Keertana will try to make it three in a row on the grass when she faces 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Indiana Downs Distaff on Monday.

Trained by Tom Proctor, Keertana comes into the one-mile Distaff off a hard-fought neck win in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs on June 15.

Prior to the 1 1/8-mile Regret, Keertana won a 1 1/16-mile allowance turf event at Churchill by three-quarters of a length. Jesus Castanon will ride Keertana for the first time.

Hot Cha Cha comes into the race off a third-place finish to Keertana in the Regret, but she had an excuse. Hot Cha Cha was in tight quarters and blocked in upper stretch and then was gaining to be beaten only a half-length. Trained by Phil Sims, Hot Cha Cha won the Grade 3 Bourbonette at Turfway Park on March 21 and finished second, beaten only a nose, in the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland on April 16. In her start prior to the Regret, Hot Cha Cha finished fifth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the American 1000 Guineas at Arlington Park on May 23. Orlando Mojica will ride.

Irish import Excelente comes into the Distaff off a second-place finish in the American 1000 Guineas. Trained By Darrin Miller, Excelente has yet to win in the U.S., but has improved in her two starts this season. Miguel Mena will ride.

* In race 4, 12 Indiana-registered fillies and mares will meet in the $70,000 Florence Henderson going 1 1/16 miles on the turf course.

Princess Composer will try to win her first race of the year after a pair of thirds in her first two outings. The 7-year-old Princess Composer won 7 of 11 races last year and has won 3 of 6 turf starts. Jose Camejo will ride for trainer Paul Krummen.

Easy Tee won this event last year by three-quarters of a length over Princess Composer, but the race was taken off the turf and run on the main course. Trained by Michael Reavis, Easy Tee has only 1 turf win in 11 attempts, although she has finished second four times.