Carla's Way earns Breeders' Cup berth with Rockfel win
Carla’s Way ran off to a 2 1/4-length victory over favored Shuwari in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket and might well have run herself into a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The seven-furlong Rockfel for 2-year-old fillies is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and Carla’s Way’s connections apparently are keen on a trip to Santa Anita. Ed Crisford, son of co-trainer Simon Crisford, said Carla’s Way is a horse who enjoys quick ground, which she found Friday, and that a start in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, into which Carla’s Way now has automatic fees-paid entry, is probable.
Carla’s Way, a Starspangledbanner filly, won for the second time in four starts after obtaining favorable early position under James Doyle. Second-time starter Spiritual led down Newmarket’s straight course as Carla’s Way tracked from second, and as the pacesetter tired with a quarter-mile to run, Carla’s Way took over and opened a lead of several lengths. Shuwari, who had broken poorly and raced from the back of the field, made good progress through the race’s final stages but had too much ground to close and little chance to reach the winner. Ylang Ylang showed late interest after racing from the rear and checked in third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Shuwari.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.