Lady Aurelia Brilliant in Giant’s Causeway

In the 21st running of the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway for fillies and mares, the three-year-old Lady Aurelia crushed older fillies and mares in her first start in nearly seven months by cruising to a 2½-length victory over Nobody’s Fault.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by John Velazquez, Lady Aurelia covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.40, a clocking that was just off the stakes record of 1:02.23 set by West Ocean in 2010.

Lady Aurelia raced in fifth place early as Ruby Notion set the pace. On the far turn, Lady Aurelia began to move, entered the stretch five wide and quickly blew past her rivals to win for the fourth time in five starts.

The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Lady Aurelia’s earnings to $429,668 in a career that includes Group 1 and 2 wins in Europe. She was named the European champion 2-year-old filly of 2016.

A Keeneland sales graduate, Lady Aurelia is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Scat Daddy out of the Forest Wildcat mare D’ Wildcat Speed.

Lady Aurelia returned $4, $3.60 and $2.60. Nobody’s Fault, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., returned $27 and $11.80 and finished a neck in front of Ruby Notion, who paid $6 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Triple Chelsea, who was followed in order by Miss Katie Mae (IRE), Rapid Rhythm, 2016 winner Exaggerated, Pretty Perfection, Lots o’ Lex, Bibby and Lajatico (GB).

Source: Keeneland