LEXINGTON, Ky. — Thorn Song's trainer and jockey knew their horse was having a good day by looking at his ears today.

"It was fast, but you could tell he was happy out there, doing what he was doing," trainer Dale Romans said. "He had his ears pricked, and I knew Robby had him in the right spot."

Jockey Robby Albarado didn't have to do much work to guide Thorn Song to victory in the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile. The strategy: Get the lead early and never give it up.

"I know I was going awfully quick on the backside," Albarado said. "But I felt like he was doing it within himself. He had his ears up. He was comfortable, and he sprinted home. He just kept the same pace throughout the race."

The favorite broke second, had the lead at the quarter pole and maintained it throughout, finishing in a swift 1:43. The win clinched an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile in three weeks at Santa Anita.

Romans said he'd have to check with owner Ahmed Zayat, but added, "I'm sure we want to go."

Shakis had a ferocious finish, coming from 11th in the 12-horse field at the three-quarter pole and ninth in the stretch, to take second by a nose over War Monger.

"It was just too short for him," said Shakis' jockey, Rafael Bejarano. "The horse on the lead had no pressure. You can't have a good horse on the lead without any pressure."

Thorn Song paid $8.40, $4.60 and $2.80. Shakis returned $5.20 and $3.40. War Monger was $3.40 to show.

Saturday's card was packed with graded stakes races, including three Breeders' Cup qualifiers. Albarado, aboard favorite Indyanne, also won the Grade III Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes.

He took a similar route as he did aboard Thorn Song, grabbed the lead early from the rail and keeping it throughout for trainer Greg Gilchrist. Wild Gams was a head back in second, and Sugar Swirl was third.

"It's easy when you ride great fillies like her," Albarado said. "She was very kind about everything she did today."

In the other Grade I, the $500,000 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity, Bejarano earned a runaway victory aboard Square Eddie.

Square Eddie had the lead at the top of the stretch and widened it to 4 3/4 lengths at the finish over Terrain. Square Eddie's owner, Paul Reddam, said he long suspected the horse, which had found mixed success in England, could also win in the United States.

"English racing is a little different style than what we have in America," Reddam said. "His last race ... he really showed a lot of courage coming to the wire. I thought, really on pedigree, he could go farther."

Reddam said the next stop for the John Best-trained horse would likely be the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 25.

Square Eddie paid $20.20, $9.60 and $6.20. Terrain returned $5.40 and $4. Pioneer of the Nile paid $4 for third.

"The horse gave me everything," Bejarano said. "He showed a lot of power in the stretch."