Churchill Downs Stakes Advance and Update: Gutsy Allowance Winner Boss Lady Bailey Steps Up in Class for Saturday's $250,000 Keertana

May 18, 2025

Hooties Racing’s gutsy allowance winner Boss Lady Bailey will face a class test Saturday when she steps up to stakes company in the 12th running of the $250,000 Keertana (Listed) for fillies and mares at 1 ½ miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs.

The Keertana Stakes, the headliner on the 11-race program, will go as Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Boss Lady Bailey, a three-time winner trained by Mike Maker, scored a nose victory one month ago in a conditioned allowance event at Keeneland, defeating fellow Keertana entrants Marksman Queen (GB) and Holy Foley. The 5-year-old daughter of Connect will be ridden by Luis Saez out of post No. 7.

Boss Lady Bailey will face several competitors exiting stakes company including Highlander Training Center’s Strikingly Spun. Trained by Joe Sharp, the daughter of Hard Spun finished third in the Tom Benson Memorial (Listed) in late March at Fair Grounds. Prior to that start, the 5-year-old finished third in the Marie Krantz Memorial. She’ll be ridden in the Keertana by Jose Ortiz from post 4.

The field for the Keertana from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Dreaming of Mo (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans)
Tarneema (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh)
Holy Foley (Mario Gutierrez, Brian Lynch)
Strikingly Spun (Ortiz, Sharp)
Marksman Queen (GB) (Frankie Dettori, Graham Motion)
Sugaree (IRE) (Luan Machado, Arnaud Delacour)
Boss Lady Bailey (Saez, Maker)
Dazzlin’ Dictator (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

UTAH BEACH EARNS 98 BRISNET SPEED RATING IN LOUISVILLE STAKES VICTORY – Jeffrey Amling and Merriebelle Stable’s Utah Beach earned a solid 98 Brisnet Speed Rating for his 1 ½-length victory in Saturday night’s $250,000 Louisville Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The Louisville was Utah Beach’s second-consecutive stakes score after winning last month’s Elkorn Stakes (GII) at Keeneland. The gray son of English Channel improved his overall record to 15-5-5-1 with purse earnings of $687,785.

GOULD’S GOLD BREAKS 26-YEAR TRACK RECORD SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Gould’s Gold broke a 26-year-old track record Saturday night at Churchill Downs, winning a 1 1/8-mile allowance contest in a final time of 1:47.26, which was .02 seconds faster than Victory Gallop in the 1999 Stephen Foster Handicap.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Gould’s Gold earned a 95 Brisnet Speed Rating, three points shy of his career best which occurred when he finished second in last year’s Ohio Derby (GIII).

Earlier in the night, Holster scorched 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.97, just .63 seconds off Love At Noon’s track record set in 2001.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Sunday’s nine-race program began at 12:45 p.m. … Jockey Declan Cannon took off his three mounts while he recovered from a spill in Saturday’s Louisville Stakes when his mount, Rebel Red, appeared to clip heels.  … Sunday’s work tab at Churchill Downs had 125 horses recording breezes on dirt including Kentucky Derby (GI) eighth-place finisher East Avenue (four furlongs, :49); Kentucky Derby 18th-place finisher Flying Mohawk (four furlongs, :49); Kentucky Oaks (GI) ninth-place finisher La Cara (four furlongs, :48.60); Bathhouse Row Stakes winner Instant Replay (five furlongs, 1:01) and Alysheba (GII) third-place finisher Hall of Fame (five furlongs, 1:01.40). On the turf, Edgewood (GII) winner Nitrogen cruised a half-mile in :50.60. Minutes earlier, Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII) winner Simply in Front worked an easy half-mile in :51.40. … Jockey Corey Lanerie is on the hunt to become the second all-time winningest rider in Churchill Downs history. The veteran began Sunday with 1,220 wins, just 12 shy of tying Calvin Borel’s mark of 1,232. Pat Day holds the all-time record for wins beneath the Twin Spires with 2,482. … Following dark days Monday-Wednesday, racing will continue Thursday for the start of a special five-day week of racing that includes a scheduled nine-race card for Memorial Day. Thursday’s program features an ultra-competitive allowance event in Race 1 headlined by graded stakes winners Dragoon Guard and Tumbarumba. First post is 5 p.m. with Friday-Monday’s cards beginning at 12:45 p.m. Monday’s program will be drawn Wednesday and includes the $250,000 Winning Colors (GIII). … For more information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.