Atomic Blonde Collars Chop Chop in Strange Keertana

After being defeated 2 1/4 lengths by Chop Chop  in Keeneland's Bewitch Stakes (G3T) April 26, Atomic Blonde  turned the tables on her rival with a sustained stretch rally in a strangely run edition of the $234,500 Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs May 25.

The race was turned on its head when Sand and Sea , with Reylu Gutierrez aboard, opened up a 22-length lead at the half-mile pole before raising the white flag and getting consumed by her competitors on the far turn.

Settled in last through fractions of :23.47, :47.01, and 1:11.43, jockey Tyler Gaffalione kept an eye on Chop Chop and Vergara , who would finish second and third, respectively, as they started to advance.

"The two I was keeping an eye on weren't running away from me," Gaffalione said. "I got caught back a little bit further than I wanted to, but she was in such a great rhythm I didn't want to call on her too early."

Saving ground on the rail, Atomic Blonde accelerated as she switched leads in the stretch and collared Chop Chop in the final sixteenth, winning by a half-length in 2:31.01 while paying $7.64.

A group 3 winner in Italy, the Keertana marked the 5-year-old daughter of The Grey Gatsby 's first United States win in nine tries. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Clement, and Winters Equine, Atomic Blonde improves her record to 4-5-4 from 20 starts for earnings of $478,249.