Ayra Stark set for Saturday’s Keertana Stakes on the turf at Churchill Downs

After three stakes placings, the Argentine mare will seek her first major victory in the United States; with José Ortizaboard, she has been installed as the morning-line favorite

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario).- The campaign of Argentine mare Ayra Stark in the United States appears poised for its defining breakthrough. After three outstanding runner-up finishes, the chestnut will seek her first major American victory this Saturday in the Keertana Stakes (L-2400m, turf, US$250,000 purse) at Churchill Downs, where she has been installed as the strong 9-5 morning-line favorite.

The daughter of Cosmic Trigger, who joined the barn of Horacio de Paz following the retirement of Ignacio Correas (h.) after the latest Breeders’ Cup, has steadily elevated her level while maintaining her trademark courageous running style, either setting the pace or racing prominently near the leaders.

After capturing an allowance at Keeneland in mid-October, she finished second in the Florence Stakes (L) at Turfway Park over the synthetic surface, before delivering two highly impressive performances at Gulfstream Park, again settling for runner-up honors, first in the Christophe Clement Stakes (G3) and later in the Orchid Stakes (G3).

Racing for Haymarket Farm LLC, Ayra Stark enters the race off a series of sharp workouts, including five furlongs in 1:01.40 and a final half-mile in :48.80, all recorded at Laurel Park, where de Paz currently bases his operation.

Winner of the Clásico Ramón Biaus (G2) at Palermo while campaigning for her breeder, Stud Juan Antonio, Ayra Stark will face seven rivals, including Sultana (Always Dreaming), trained by Kevin Attard and to be ridden by Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado.

Sultana was, in fact, the mare who defeated Ayra Stark in the Orchid Stakes, edging her by a neck after producing a strong late rally. Prior to that effort, she captured the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) at Woodbine in Canada as part of a remarkably consistent campaign that has never seen her finish worse than third.

Golden Sunshine (Medaglia d’Oro) also brings a lengthy résumé and appears to be enjoying some of the best form of her career, highlighted recently by a runner-up finish in the Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Speed Shopper (Quality Road), who had previously defeated Ayra Stark in both the Florence and the Christophe Clement.

Another major contender appears to be Way to be Marie (Not This Time), a two-time winner of the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds, multiple graded stakes placer, and third behind Golden Sunshine in the Bewitch at Keeneland.