Score points Stacelita for Breeders' Cup

Stacelita got back on the winning track at Longchamp on Monday with a convincing wire-to-wire victory in the Group 3, $98,000 La Coupe. Afterward, her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said that the entire 4-year-old campaign of the Martin Schwartz-owned filly will be geared toward an appearance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Allowed to set a leisurely pace under Christophe Soumillon, the 7-10 Stacelita merely had to be nudged along just inside the quarter pole to leave her five rivals toiling in her wake. She ran out a three-length winner over Group 3 winner Court Canibal, but the margin might have been twice that had Soumillon so desired. Her time for the 1 1/4 miles on good to soft ground was 2:08.90.

The winner last year of the French Oaks as well as the Prix Vermeille via the disqualification of Dar Re Mi, Stacelita had lost her unbeaten record when seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her seasonal debut was a disappointing one when she finished 16 1/2 lengths fourth behind Goldikova in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan.

A daughter of the German-based stallion Monsun, Stacelita was bred in France by Jean-Pierre Dubois. She started her career in the deep provinces when beating colts in a 1 1/8-mile maiden at Salon-de-Provence. The La Coupe was the first time she has beaten males since then and she is now 7 for 9 lifetime with three Group 1 victories to her credit. Rouget plans on returning her to distaff company for her next outing in either the 1 1/4-mile, Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 or the Prix Jean Romanet under the same conditions at Deauville on Aug. 22.