It has been a long season for the European-trained juvenile fillies but connections of Carla’s Way and Porta Fortuna will be aiming to end the campaign with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
Simon and Ed Crisford's Carla's Way started her career back in June when recording a very fast success over six-and-a-half furlongs in a Doncaster maiden. The daughter of Starspangledbanner has gone from strength to strength since, including an easy two-and-a-quarter length victory in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, where she had the first two home in the Fillies Mile – Ylang Ylang and Shuwari – behind her.
It will be Carla's Way's first attempt over a mile, which does not concern co-trainer Ed Crisford:
"She will suit this track and a two-turn mile extremely well. We just didn't want to run her on a straight mile on soft ground in the Fillies' Mile so we opted to come here and we thought it would suit her down to the ground – she can just ping off that quick ground.
"Her draw [stall nine] isn't too bad and you have options from there at least. I always thought five to 10 is where I wanted to be so it is OK.
"She is in really good form and has taken to Santa Anita extremely well. She's been on the track in a morning and for a two-year-old it can be quite a lot going to a new place and seeing all the horses training on the track there, but she is just loving it and is like an old pro.
"She's taken everything in her stride, I couldn't be happier with her and I think she goes in with a favourite's chance. Hopefully she gets a clean trip and I'm sure she will be bang there at the finish."
The Breeders' Cup has been a long-term aim for Porta Fortuna, who won the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot for her American connections. The Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly returned to winning ways when taking the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket's Rowley Mile and will be stepping up in trip for the first time.
"She's been fantastic for us and has had a great year," O'Brien said.
"She's in great form and seems to have travelled over well. We are not sure if we will stay the mile, but she will handle the ground and the track should be fine so we are excited.
"Ever since the day the owners bought her after her maiden this has been sort of a long-term plan. Obviously you can never expect to be at the Breeders' Cup, but if she turned out to be good enough this was always the plan and thankfully she has.
"We're just keeping her safe and happy and healthy until the race and hopefully we get a bit of luck on the day."
