Radiant Avie wins Lady Canterbury

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Radiant Avie cruised to a clear early lead and had far too much left to be caught in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup Stakes, winning by two lengths over defending champion Rue des Reves, with 3-2 favorite Stretching third.

Based in Chicago with Richie Scherer, who trains Radiant Avie for the Apogee Stable, Radiant Avie won her first stakes race, and won it smartly. With the closers hampered by the slow early pace, Radiant Avie scampered clear under a patient ride from Derek Bell, opening up at the top of the stretch and easily holding clear all late runs.

Bell also opened a clear early lead, and Radiant Avie, best on the front end, didn't have to work to get it. Her first quarter in the one-mile grass race went in 24.62 seconds, tepid on a course that had baked in 90-plus degree heat for days. Longshot bomber Camela Carson raced closest to Radiant Avie, but never really pushed her. Bell let Camela Carson range up on the far turn, then pushed on the pedal when Radiant Avie straightened away in the stretch, and there was plenty in the tank.

Timed in 1:35.69, Radiant Avie paid $13.20 to win.