Highland Reel ran out a brilliant winner of the Secretariat Stakes for Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan at Arlington Park in Chicago on Saturday night.
Afforded an easy lead, Heffernan controlled matters as he wanted before pressing the button turning into the straight, where the response was electric.
French runner War Despatch did not settle through the early part of the race and while he closed to look a danger half a mile from home, that threat was short lived.
"He won easily. You're always confident when Aidan tells you he likes one." - Seamie Heffernan
Closing Bell edged Force The Pass, who had been left at the start, as O'Brien landed successive runnings of the 10-furlong Grade One contest after Adelaide 12 months ago.
Heffernan said: "He's a star, it was like home when it started raining! I was never in any doubt, I didn't see much pace and this horse gallops and stays and he's genuine.
"He won easily. You're always confident when Aidan tells you he likes one."
Second in the French Derby to New Bay, Highland Reel had last been seen landing the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
O'Brien's assistant TJ Comerford said: "Aidan was delighted with him, he's a good horse.
"Nobody wanted to make it and if they don't Aidan has no problem with it.
"Aidan likes the horse and there's plenty of races for him."
British raider Secret Gesture was dramatically demoted from first place in the Grade One Beverly D Stakes.
Jamie Spencer was always ideally positioned on the 2013 Oaks runner-up as Marco Botti's Euro Charline attempted to make all and stayed on to tremendous effect.
However, the Ralph Beckett-trained winner did drift to her right in the closing stages - despite Spencer switching his whip in an attempt to straightening her up - apparently impeding the fast-finishing Stephanie's Kitten, whose rider Irad Ortiz Jr took dramatic action in snatching his mount up, subsequently losing third.
An inquiry was immediately called and after deliberating the stewards elected to place the unfortunate Secret Gesture third for causing interference, with runner-up Watsdachances promoted to first and Stephanie's Kitten gaining a place in second.
Chad Brown, trainer of both the winner and Stephanie's Kitten, said: "I thought the stewards made the right call, we'll look forward to the fall with both of them."
Panama Hat was just denied as the German-trained Lucky Speed got up to claim the American St Leger.
The Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat was given a fine ride by Chris Hayes, travelling in fourth for much of the journey before making his move three furlongs out.
Kicking off the bend, it looked like the four-year-old would record a famous success, but Peter Schiergen's Lucky Speed had gone equally as well under Andrasch Starke and proved more than able to cover the move.
Panama Hat kept on bravely, but former German Derby winner Lucky Speed had too many guns and ran out a cosy winner in the end, booking a likely ticket to the Canadian International.
Starke said: "I rode him four weeks ago in Woodbine and we knew he needed more distance, which he had today. He can handle the American tracks very well.
"He won the Derby two years ago, there was enough pace for him - I saw the Irish horse and he fought well.
"It's my first winner in the United States, to win the St Leger is amazing."
