Waterway Run, trained by Ralph Beckett, is headed for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) after posting a half-length win in the Sahkee Oh So Sharp Stakes (Eng-III) at Newmarket Sept. 28.
Beckett said Waterway Run showed a fantastic attitude in getting the better of Richard Hannon's Light Up My Life in the seven-furlong event. It was the first group win for Waterway Run.
The daughter of Arch traveled comfortably under Jim Crowley and resisted the challenge of Light Up My Life inside the final two furlongs. Annie's Fortune finished three lengths farther back in third. The time was 1:23.86 over "good" going.
Beckett said: "I am very pleased with Waterway Run. The ground was probably on the slow side for her but she is very tough.
"She will go straight for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf because she was nominated for it as a foal and that seems the next logical step. She will like the better ground there and the syndicate who own her will have a lot of fun."
The Nov. 2 race is at Santa Anita Park.
Waterway Run is owned by Thurloe Thoroughbreds XX. The bay filly, a three-time winner from four starts, was bred in Pennsylvania by Dorothy Matz. Out of the Dixieland Band mare Princess Consort, Waterway Run sold for $15,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2011 and brought $71,044 this year at the Arqana Saint-Cloud May 2-Year-Old Breeze Up.
Crowley noted, "Richard Hannon's horse had made the running before and we didn't want to take each on but my filly settled well, traveled great and picked up nicely.
"You want uncomplicated fillies and you could ride her any way you want," he added. "She has got a nice cruising speed and you want to make use of it. It would be great if she went to the Breeders' Cup. She is very laid back and am sure that the traveling wouldn't be a problem for her. It would be very exciting if she does go.
"It's very difficult to say if she will be a group I filly; I don't see why she shouldn't be and I think a mile will certainly be her best trip. There's no reason why she shouldn't progress again."
