Jose Ortiz keeps rolling as Ayra Stark wires Keertana
Editor’s note: Ortiz heads into Sunday’s races ranking second in wins at the meet, 29-25, behind his brother, Irad, while well ahead of third-place Luis Saez (15) and Tyler Gaffalione (14), according to Equibase. However, Jose Ortiz easily wins in purse earnings over his brother, $7.4 million to $4.8 million, with the boost of Golden Tempo’s win in the $5 million Kentucky Derby and Always a Runner’s victory in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks. This was his fifth stakes win of the meet.
Churchill Downs stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media/Kurtis Coady photo of Ayra Stark winning the Keertana)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, May 23, 2026) – Ayra Stark (ARG) asserted herself early and led every step of the way to defeat Venencia (FR) by 2 ¾ lengths in Saturday’s 13th running of the $209,000 Keertana Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.
Named for a popular character in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, Ayra Stark (ARG) stopped the teletimer in 2:27.89 for 1 ½ miles over “good” turf under Kentucky Derby-winning Jose Ortiz, who rode the winner for trainer Horacio De Paz and owner Raymond Montgomery’s Haymarket Farms LLC. It was the Mid-Atlantic-based De Paz’s first stakes win at Churchill Downs.
With the turf rails positioned 12 feet out, Ayra Stark (ARG) broke well from post No. 2 in the field of seven fillies and mares and dictated the pace in quarter-mile splits of :24.79, :49.94, 1:15.04. 1:40.50 and 2:04.55. Virgin Colada tracked in second early on and got within a half-length of Ayra Stark (ARG) midway around the final turn, but the winner had plenty left and spurted clear. She was never challenged down the stretch.
“The course was labeled good today and I thought it was in good shape out there after the (Friday and Saturday morning) rain,” Ortiz said. “My plan going into the race was if we broke well to go to the lead, that’s what she seems to do best even though she can sit off the pace if need be. There wasn’t a whole lot of speed in the race. It worked out just to plan. I was able to get her to relax down the backside and had plenty of horse left when I turned for home and asked her to pick it up. She’s a very nice mare and anything between a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half distance suits her very well. It was good to see her win a race like this.”
The win was worth $121,520 and improved the career earnings of Maryland-based Ayra Stark (ARG) to $362,653 with a record of 7-4-1 in 16 starts. This was the first stakes win in the United States for Ayra Stark (ARG), who won the Group 2 Ramon Biaus at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo in her native Argentina in 2024. Ayra ended her 2025 season with a Keeneland allowance victory and second by a half-length in Turfway Park’s Florence Stakes.
Ayra Stark (ARG), who previously finished second in the $150,000 Orchid (Grade III) at Gulfstream Park on March 28, returned $4.24, $2.98 and $2.42 as the even-money favorite. Venencia (FR), at 11-1 under Vincent Cheminaud, paid $10.24 and $5.04. Way to Be Marie, ridden by Luis Saez at odds of 9-2, was another neck back in third and paid $2.84.
Golden Sunshine was fourth and was followed by Virgin Colada, Awesomesauce and Queens Command (IRE). Sultana was scratched.
Ayra Stark (ARG), a 6-year-old daughter of Cosmic Tiger (ARG) out of the Exchange Rate mare Delfia (ARG), was bred in Argentina by Marovi S.A.
The race is named for Barbara Hunter’s homebred Keertana, who won four of her nine starts at Churchill Downs, including a nose triumph over males in the $111,200 Louisville Handicap (Grade III) in 2011. She also won the 2009 Regret (GIII) by a neck. Overall, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Johar out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks won 11 of 29 starts between 2008-12 – including six stakes – and $1,031,938 while under the care of trainer Tom Proctor. In 2010, she was beaten a half-length when third behind Shared Account and Midday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) beneath the Twin Spires.
Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a 10-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).
KEERTANA QUOTES
Jose Ortiz, jockey, Ayra Stark (ARG), winner: “The course was labeled good today and I thought it was in good shape out there after the rain. My plan going into the race was if we broke well to go to the lead, that’s what she seems to do best even though she can sit off the pace if need be. There wasn’t a whole lot of speed in the race. It worked out just to plan. I was able to get her to relax down the backside and had plenty of horse left when I turned for home and asked her to pick it up. She’s a very nice mare and anything between a mile-and-a-quarter and a mile-and-a-half distance suits her very well. It was good to see her win a race like this.”
