Sparkle Blue Shines as Class of Keertana Stakes

Males were in the turf marathon spotlight last week when Churchill Downs hosted the Louisville Stakes (G3T), a race won by Double O Racing's Foreign Relations . Now this weekend their female counterparts will test their stamina over 1 1/2 miles on the Churchill Downs grass.

Likely to improve in her second start of 2023 in the $225,000 Keertana Stakes May 27 after a close sixth-place finish in the May 5 Modesty Stakes (G3T) at 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill turf is Augustin Stable and Catherine Parke's Sparkle Blue . Winner of the Valley View Stakes (G3T) and the Christiana Stakes in 2022, she also was third in her longest race at 1 1/4 miles in her final try at 3 late last year in the American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. The Graham Motion trainee is 4-1-1 in nine starts with earnings of $396,075.

The only two entrants with turf victories at 1 1/2 miles are Wertheimer and Frere's Sinfiltre  and Roger Keith Long's Miss Yearwood , both recent allowance winners at Keeneland over the trip.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher trains Sinfiltre, while Ian Wilkes conditions Miss Yearwood, who showed last fall in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T).

Dede McGehee's Viburnum  scored at 1 1/2 miles on Tapeta at Gulfstream Park in the Dec. 17 Via Borghese Stakes for trainer Kelsey Danner before a seventh in the April 1 Orchid Stakes (G3T) there at 1 1/2 miles on turf.