We Meet Again Ayra Stark (ARG), who finished a neck behind Sultana in the Grade 3 Orchid, gets a second shot at the dark bay who bested her in Saturday’s $250,000 Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs. It was a valiant effort from both veteran mares, but the last laugh ultimately went to Sultana, who stunned six foes at 18-1 on March 28 at Gulfstream Park. Neither Sultana or Ayra Stark have competed since then, meaning both will ride into the 1 ½-mile Keertana rested and raring to go. The former, trained by Kevin Attard, is 4-1-1 with a pair of graded stakes scores from six starts (Grade 3 Maple Leaf), while the latter, conditioned by Horacio De Paz, sports a 6-4-1 line ($241,133) across 15 appearances. As the 9-5 favourite, Ayra Stark holds the early betting advantage over Sultana (3-1). Earn Your Stripes On the prowl for his first stakes badge, Track Tiger turns his attention to the $150,000 Paradise Creek, this Saturday at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old son of Sharp Azteca–Tahoe Tigress enters the six-furlong sprint off a runner-up outing in last month’s John Shear Stakes – a 6 ½-furlong turf tilt at Santa Anita. Track Tiger has tested the stakes waters on two other occasions, submitting finishes of fourth in the Baffle and seventh in the Cecil B. DeMille (G3T). Trained by Doug O’Neill for breeder/owner Calumet Farm, Track Tiger stands at 2-2-0 with $114,000 in prizes through seven starts. He enters the Paradise Creek as the 9-2 third choice. Time is Money (and Gold) Graded Stakes winner Unrivaled Time looks to turn back the clock in the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes on California Gold Rush Day at Santa Anita. Last year’s Cecil B. DeMille (G3T) champion kicked off his sophomore campaign with a third in the Eddie Logan Stakes on January 8 before faltering to a sixth in the Pasadena Stakes last time out on February 22. The Not This Time colt, out of Creachadoir (IRE) mare Margot Machance (GB), will occupy the inside post in his return to Santa Anita. Trained by Leonard Powell for breeder Alfred Pais, who co-owns the bay with Innergy Racing Corp, Unrivaled Time opens the early betting at 7-2 behind only 6-5 choice He’s a Knockout. Not So Lonely After finishing well off the board in his first two starts, Lonesome Stew has graced the podium in nine straight going back to October 2023. Particularly hot of late with three consecutive trips to the winner’s circle, the 6-year-old Grazen gelding will try to stay on top in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes, a six-furlong dirt dash for 3-year-olds and up, at Santa Anita. The unbeaten stretch began last February for Lonesome Stew, who picked up a convincing 9 ½-length allowance win under regular rider Antonio Fresu. The roan, trained by Mark Glatt for owner Linear Bannasch, struck at the stakes level next time out (last March’s Sensational Star), before returning to action with a half-length tally on April 25. In rhythm, Lonesome Stew enters the Thor’s Echo at 2-1 behind only 6-5 choice Big City Lights. Home Field Advantage Undefeated through four starts at Gulfstream Park, Lennilu heads back to the Hallandale Beach, Florida oval to keep the streak alive in this Saturday’s $100,000 Game Face Stakes. The Leinster filly’s stretch of dominance began with a 3 ¾-length triumph in last May’s Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes and continued with additional victories in the Desert Vixen Stakes, Leinster Hollywood Beach Stakes and most recently, the Leinster Melody of Colors Stakes on March 22. A proven competitor for trainer Patrick Biancone, Lennilu stands at 5-0-1 with more than $301,000 in prizes on her eight-start ledger. She tops the Game Face’s early betting at 8-5, narrowly ahead of Late Night Text (9-5). Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
