Tarnawa gave her rivals a start and a beating in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (12f) at Keeneland.
The HH Aga Khan-homebred was last approaching the home turn where Colin Keane, replacing a COVID-19 Christophe Soumillon, eased the daughter of Shamardal out into running room and Tarnawa lengthened stride almost immediately, reaching the lead inside the final half-furlong to defeat Magical by one length with longtime leader Channel Maker third.
It is the third consecutive Gr1 win for the Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old who has won eight of her 14 starts and is unbeaten in 2020.
“Pretty straightforward, to be honest,” Keane told the media conference later. “Mr. Weld said get her out the gates and ride her as you find her. I spoke to Oisin Orr (who had ridden her previously) and he said she’s very straightforward.
“We just tipped away down the back straight, then we got going before the bend, then off she went. We got a clean run then and she was very good to the line.”