2023 Keertana S. exotics plays and field analysis

A field of 12 fillies and mares will race 1 1/2 miles on Churchill Downs’ turf in the $225,000 Keertana S. on Saturday.

Below we examine the full Keertana S. field and offer our best exotics plays — including exacta, trifecta, and superfecta tickets — for Race 10 at Churchill on May 27.

Keertana S. selections

• #4 Sinfiltre (9-2)
• #7 Lovely Princess (5-1)
  
• #10 Sparkle Blue (7-2)

Keertana S. exotics

• $3 Exacta: 4 with 6, 7, 10 ($9)
• $1 Trifecta: 4 with 6, 7, 10 with 5, 6, 7, 10 ($9)
• 10-cent Superfecta: 4, 7 with 4, 6, 7, 10 with 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 with 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10  ($7.20)

#1 LADY ARSINOE (12-1): Failed to hit the board in last two when racing at today’s distance. Trainer Bill Mott is a 23% winner in non-graded stakes and a 17% winner this meet, but the Pioneerof the Nile filly will need a lot to go right to contend in this spot. Julien Leparoux (3% winner on turf) will pick up the mount.

#2 QUALITY STAR (10-1): Moves up in class off a 1 1/4-length win in a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Keeneland while posting a 90 Brisnet Speed figure. Paulo Lobo is a 17% winner with horses that won their last race but a 10% winner in non-graded stakes. Joe Talamo will retain the mount. This Animal Kingdom four-year-old has a chance at the minor awards. The filly owns a 3-0-1-1 record at Churchill.

#3 UNDER ONE SKY (20-1): Juan Cano pupil came home a two-length fourth in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Churchill May 18. She switches to jockey Gerardo Corrales, a 20% winner this meet but a 9% winner on turf.

#4 SINFILTRE (9-2): Wired a 1 1/2-mile allowance at Keeneland on April 16 and recorded a 99 BRIS figure in the process. This Uncle Mo filly has won back-to-back under Irad Ortiz Jr. and switches to high-percentage jockey Luis Saez while moving up in class here. Trainer Todd Pletcher is a 24% winner in non-graded stakes and with horses that won their last race. Saez is a 20% winner with pacesetter types and a 14% winner on turf.

#5 MISS YEARWOOD (6-1): Closer won last out at today’s distance in an allowance at Keeneland while recording a 92 BRIS figure and 94 Late Pace rating. She moves up in class for Ian Wilkes, an 8% winner in his last 84 non-graded stakes and an 11% winner on turf. Chris Landeros (17% winner this meet) will stay in the saddle.

#6 EXIT SOUL (5-1): Animal Kingdom four-year-old finished a neck third in the 1 1/2-mile Santa Barbara S. on Santa Anita’s turf on April 30. Mike McCarthy is a 21% winner with shippers and a 15% winner on turf. Florent Geroux (20% winner this meet and a 15% winner on turf) will pick up the mount. The gray four-year-old flashed a 100 BRIS figure last out, the highest last race speed rating among the field, but is 0-for-5 in her career on turf.

#7 LOVELY PRINCESS (5-1): Moves up in class off a win in a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Keeneland while recording an 89 BRIS figure and 98 Late Pace rating. Kenny McPeek is a 19% winner second start off the layoff and a 22% winner in non-graded stakes. Brian Hernandez Jr. will retain the mount on the Twirling Candy filly out of a Giant's Causeway mare. Four-year-old is 6-3-1-0 on turf.

#8 I’M SO SORRY (15-1): Came home third to Sinfiltre last out while running today’s distance at Keeneland. Trainer Brian Lynch is a 22% winner in non-graded stakes and a 15% winner this meet. Jareth Loveberry, a 13% winner at Churchill and 16% winner on turf, will pick up the mount.

#9 TALBEYAH (12-1): Closer finished fifth with an 87 BRIS figure when racing a mile in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream in January. She returns off a four-month layoff for Mark Casse, a 13% winner with horses coming off a more than 90-day layoff. Cristian Torres (20% winner this meet) will pick up the mount with Luis Saez aboard Sinfiltre.

#10 SPARKLE BLUE (7-2): Hard Spun filly finished three-quarters of a length in third in the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita two back in December. She returned off a long layoff and came home sixth by 4 1/4 lengths in the Modesty (G3) at Churchill May 5. Sparkle Blue can improve with the drop in class and in her second start off a layoff. Graham Motion is a 17% winner in non-graded stakes. Vincent Cheminaud, a 15% winner this meet and 16% winner on turf, will pick up the mount.

#11 IMPLOSION (30-1): Not This Time filly makes first start with trainer Steve Margolis, a 28% winner in non-graded stakes. Last out, the four-year-old finished eighth to Quality Star in an allowance at Keeneland and may struggle with the stretch-out to 12 furlongs. Reylu Gutierrez will inherit the mount.

#12 VIBURNUM (12-1): The Include mare faltered to finish seventh of eight in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream on April 1. Two back, the five-year-old won by 2 1/4 lengths at today’s distance in the Via Borghese S., which was originally scheduled on the turf but moved to Gulfstream’s all-weather track. Trainer Kelsey Danner is an 11% winner in non-graded stakes and a 13% winner with horses coming off a layoff of 46-90 days. Adam Beschizza will regain the mount and strikes at a 9% rate on turf. Viburnum is 0-for-2 at today’s distance on turf and owns a 3-0-2-0 record at Churchill.