Amazing Maria keeps rolling in Falmouth Stakes

Amazing Maria continued her ascent through the European filly-and-mare ranks Friday at Newmarket, scoring her first Group 1 victory with a one-length win over Euro Charline in the Falmouth Stakes. Her win hardly was dominant, though, with six of the seven runners lined up within 1 1/2 lengths at the finish.

Amazing Maria, 4, looked like she might be a 3-year-old of some consequence last year after ending her 2-year-old campaign with a Group 3 win, but her 2014 campaign went amiss from the start, and after three poor races Amazing Maria was done for the year. Turned over this season to trainer David O’Meara, she has belatedly fulfilled early promise, posting a major upset in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, and validating that breakthrough Friday.

James Doyle rode the winner, a daughter of Mastercraftsman-Messias Da Silva (by Tale of the Cat) who was bred and is owned by James Ogden. Arabian Queen, who would fade to last, set the early pace while tracked by Euro Charline, who took over with a little less than three furlongs left in the one-mile Falmouth. But Doyle played his hand, and Amazing Maria collared Euro Charline, punching home to win clear of a five-horse photo finish for second. Finishing just behind Euro Charline were Avenir Certain, Bawina, Fintry, and Lucida.

Integral, the 2014 Falmouth winner, was scratched reportedly because of course concerns, with the ground at Newmarket called good-to-firm. Winning time was a slow 1:42.05.

Euro Charline was scratched just before Duke of Cambridge after balking at being loaded into the gate, but went into her starting stall without incident Friday. This was a race Euro Charline probably needed. She ran well and should be on a good pattern to defend her title in the Beverly D. at Arlington.

Lucida, the 2-1 favorite Friday, had a terrible trip, trapped behind horses for the final quarter-mile and failing to find room even when switched sharply right in the final furlong.