ARCADIA, Calif. -- Well positioned when prompted, Lane Way ran himself into contention for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 with his third stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita. Sent off favored, Lane Way ($5.60) closed from a stalking position to take the lead in the final furlong, winning by a half-length over 7-2 Bran, who closed steadily through the stretch. Noble Reflection, who set the early pace, finished third at 15-1. Lane Way ran 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:14.47 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. “It should set him up for the Breeders’ Cup,” said winning rider Mike Smith. :: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks, and more. Shop Now.  The race was scheduled for the hillside turf course, but was moved to the oval turf course after two-fifths of an inch of rain fell in the hour before the first race, track executives said. Smith had Lane Way in third on the backstretch behind Noble Reflection, who set an early pace of 23.39 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.86 for a half-mile on a course rated good because of the rain. Smith moved Lane Way outside of Noble Reflection on the turn, but needed most of the stretch to catch the pesky leader. “I was right where I wanted to be,” Smith said. “I just moved a little sooner than I wanted to, but I thought I’d better go.” Bran looked poised to take the lead with a furlong remaining, but could not catch Lane Way. Bran lugged out at times on the backstretch, jockey Juan Hernandez said, but was well placed entering the stretch. “I was waiting to see if the rail opened up,” Hernandez said. “I moved out, but the other horse was too good. He showed up.” Noble Reflection, who was beaten a nose by Bran, was followed in the order of finish by I’m A Gambler, Mas Rapido, Sumter, Unconquerable Keen, Balnikhov, Packs a Wahlop, Radical Right, and Ah Jeez. Lane Way, a 6-year-old gelding by Into Mischief, races for the My Racehorse partnership and trainer Richard Mandella, A winner of 5 of 19 starts, Lane Way has earned $490,560. The $203,000 Eddie D Stakes was Lane Way’s second start since returning from a seven-month layoff to finish fifth by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2. The race was too short for Lane Way compared to the Eddie D Stakes, Smith said. “The extra distance helped a bit,” Smith said. Lane Way won the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course in January before he was sidelined. In 2022, Lane Way was second in the Eddie D Stakes, and was stuck on the also-eligible list for the BC Turf Sprint at Keeneland. He won an allowance race on the corresponding weekend at Santa Anita. This year, Lane Way has better credentials for the BC Turf Sprint. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.