Laxfield Road, who took all the money at the windows as the 1-5 favorite in this debut, didn’t let her backers down and won with ease for master 2-year-old trainer Wesley Ward. Away in good order, the bay motored straight to the head of affairs against the rail under token pressure to her outside.

The $130,000 Keeneland September yearling zipped the first two furlongs in :22.20 and hit the half in :45.72 already five lengths ahead of her nearest pursuers. Under a confident Joel Rosario, Laxfield Road more than doubled that margin in the rush to the line, pulling clear with authority down the lane to score in the good time of :52.28 for the 4 1/2 furlongs.It was 11 1/4 lengths back to Sombree (Eskendereya) in second.

Out of a half-sister to GI Toyota Bluegrass S. hero Monba (Maria’s Mon), Laxfield Road also hails from the family of precocious GI Arlington-Washington Futurity winner Secret Hello (Private Account) and GSW & GISP Silent Account (Private Account). Katori (Dixie Union) produced a colt by Bodemeister in 2014. Ward is familiar with offspring of Quality Road, as he has had great success with GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero and G1 Darley Prix Morny runner-up Hootenanny (Quality Road). That colt won a similar contest at first asking over the synthetic during the Keeneland Spring Meet last April, as well as the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot last term. He most recently added a Keeneland allowance this past Saturday in preparation for an intended start in the inaugural G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot this June. ($130,000 yrl ’14 KEESEP).Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. O-Hat Creek Racing. B-Rose Hill Farm & Sean & Barbara Speck (KY). T-Wesley A Ward. This filly was also named a TDN Rising Star.

Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News