Laurens holds on to win Sun Chariot Stakes

With Happily bearing down and closing in, Laurens was happy to see the wire Saturday at Newmarket, but in the end, Laurens had closed the deal on her fifth Group 1 win in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Laurens, who looked a sure winner a furlong out, held on to win by a head as Happily pounced in the final 100 yards. Altyn Orda was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third as Laurens proved the only one among the trio of most-bet horses to justify her price. Veracious traveled comfortably but went the wrong way when asked for run, checking in sixth. Second choice Wind Chimes never truly lifted her hooves and was last. Overseas racing media reported that Wind Chimes was found to have an irregular heartbeat just after the race.

Laurens needed no excuse as she continued storming through a memorable campaign for owner John Dance and trainer Karl Burke. Making nearly all the running under Danny Tudhope in the straight-course mile, Laurens added the Sun Chariot to Group 1 tallies this year in the Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp, the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, and the Matron at Leopardstown. Last season, Laurens won the Group 1 Fillies Mile.

And there will be still more to her season. Burke said afterward that Laurens could be considered for the Queen Elizabeth II on Oct. 20 at Ascot but sounded more inclined to take a chance at Churchill Downs in the Breeders’ Cup. The Matron was a BC Challenge Win and You’re In race, giving Laurens a fees-paid entry in the Filly and Mare Turf, but that 1 3/8-mile race might stretch Laurens’s stamina, and she will also be considered for the BC Mile.

Laurens is by Siyouni and out of Recombe, by Cape Cross.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien also mentioned the Breeders’ Cup as a possible goal for Happily.

• At Longchamp on Saturday, Plumatic, whose connections have expressed interest in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, could only finish fourth as the heavy favorite in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein. Ostilio won the Wildenstein by 1 3/4 lengths. Call the Wind won the featured Group 1 Prix Cadran by 1 1/4 lengths for trainer Freddie Head and owner and breeder George Strawbridge.