Carpe Diem fillies record pair of maiden wins

Bella Aurora and Rule the Day both got their initial victories on Aug. 16 to give top-10 First-Crop sire Carpe Diem a total of six winners to date.

Kicking off her sire’s daily double was Bella Aurora, who won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the turf by two lengths in a performance that was more dominant that the margin of victory indicates. She was geared down late after opening up by some five lengths in mid-stretch.

Bella Aurora is campaigned by Country Life Farm and was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm. She is the second foal out of Street Interest, whose siblings include Grade 2 winner Golden Spikes and the stakes winner Al Muhtasib. She comes from the direct family of Grade 1 winner and noted sire Forestry.

Later in the afternoon Rule the Day did just that in a six-furlong maiden race at Ellis Park, controlling the pace the entire trip and drawing away at the end to win by 1 1/2-lengths.

Rule the Day is out of the A.P. Indy mare Ruly, who won her only start. Ruly is a half-sister to Questing (GB), winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1).