Miss Yearwood came with a furious rally down the center of the course and blew past leader Lovely Princess nearing the wire to post a one-length victory in the Listed Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 27 May.
The Keertana marked the first Stakes win for the four-year-old Will Take Charge filly, who now has won back-to-back races. The ultra-consistent runner has finished in the money in eight of her 12 career starts.
A full field of 12 went to the post in the 12-furlong turf contest. Out of the gate it was Exit Soul and Sinfiltre that went right to the front as Miss Yearwood was settled near the back of the field through the early stages of the race. Exit Soul and Sinfiltre set swift fractions through the first half-mile of the race, with Miss Yearwood quite content to let the frontrunners expend too much energy.
As the field entered the final turn, Miss Yearwood made a bold, sweeping move while racing five-wide and was under a full head of steam as she charged down the center of the turf course. Deep within the final furlong she reeled in the new leader, Lovely Princess, and pulled way, crossing the wire a length in front.
Bred in Kentucky by her owner, R. Keith Long, Miss Yearwood is out of the winning Awesome Again mare, Satisfaction, and is a half-sister to Graded Stakes-placed Tuggle (Point of Entry). Second dam Dancinginmydreams is a G1-placed full sister to both Champion Heavenly Prize and G1 winner, Oh What a Windfall. This prominent Phipps female family has also produced such standouts as G1 winners Dancing Forever, Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find, Furlough and Persistently.
Will Take Charge is completing his first season at Darley Japan in 2023. Winner of the Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old colt in 2013, he is the sire of There Goes Harvard, winner of the 2022 G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, G1 Kentucky Oaks third-place finisher, Will’s Secret and Princess Bettina, winner of the Listed China Doll Stakes this season.
