Thoroughbred Club of America S.

There went Slammed, winging her way out around the old dirt track at Keeneland just like she was supposed to do. The 4-year-old daughter of Marking was the speed in the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, her place at the front of an eight-horse field unquestioned through the early going.

The turn for home was another matter. That’s where the New Mexico-bred filly could have faltered in her first Grade 2 race, a huge step up against Kentucky bluebloods on the world stage.

Instead, she kept on going.

Widening away to a 6 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong test Saturday in Lexington, Slammed left her rivals in the dust with a swish of her long black tail, ears pricked as she crossed the finish line in a final time of 1:10.03 under Florent Geroux. Not only did she punch her ticket to the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, but she put her sire in the spotlight, along with trainer and co-breeder Todd Fincher.

“New Mexico don’t get much recognition as far as trainers or horses, and she’s a superstar — she belongs with the best,” said Fincher, who bred Slammed in partnership with Brad King and trains her for King, Suzanne Kirby, and Barbara Coleman. “We’ve always thought she was good enough and the timing was right, and everything’s worked right now so perfectly. It’s a great feeling.”