Lady Aurelia made a terrific comeback ahead of her intended return to Royal Ascot with a clear-cut victory at Keeneland.
Wesley Ward's three-year-old, a jaw-dropping winner of the Queen Mary Stakes last summer, surged to victory in the Giant's Causeway Stakes on what was likely to have been her prep race before the King's Stand Stakes.
The daughter of Scat Daddy had been out of action since she was surprisingly beaten in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket last September.
But Lady Aurelia looked in rude health at Keeneland when she swept into contention at the top of the home straight under John Velazquez and exerted full authority without ever looking under serious pressure.
Nobody's Fault was a never-nearer second.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 6/1 from 10/1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and to 7/2 for the King's Stand Stakes.
Reaction
Wesley Ward told www.keeneland.com: "She’s a wonderful filly. Has a big future – excited to get back over to England to (Royal) Ascot. She’ll train right here at Keeneland until we go.
"Lot of credit goes out to (jockey) Julio Garcia, who gets on her and works her every day. Instead of shooting to the front, he gets her to relax. He sits back with her and every time she works, she gets more and more relaxed. I think that’s going to be a big key to where we want to go.
"(Our) ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup (Turf Sprint-G1). That will be five-eighths on the turf (at) Del Mar. Should suit her perfect.
"She did everything great. That is what we wanted to do: get her back, get her to settle and make a run.
"It is a big advantage that she has trained essentially her whole career here. She was settled on a hot day with a big crowd. A lot of fillies might be apprehensive when they ship somewhere but (being home) made a big difference today. This sets her up perfect (to return to Royal Ascot)."
John Velazquez said: "She relaxed really well. At the quarter pole, I gave her a little kiss and she was in the battle right away. It was instantly."
"I was concerned with that much speed in the race, I didn’t want to get hooked up head to head. I was talking to Wesley earlier today and he was a little worried that he hadn’t taken her to the gate yet, but I said that might be good, if she gets away a little slower without me having to take hold of her.
"Sure enough, she broke a touch slow. The other horses went, I gave her a little tug and she came right back to my hand. She relaxed really well behind horses, and at the quarter pole, when I asked her, she responded right away."