Lady Eli: Our Courageous Lady

After Lady Eli’s resounding win in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (Gr. IT), in 2015, it was discovered she had picked up a nail, which had become embedded in her left hoof, while walking back to the barn. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. The nail was quickly removed and all was fine for one week then her right hoof began showing signs of Laminitis, which she had been favoring when her left hoof began showing signs of the disease. Lady Eli had laminitis in both front hoofs. Her owners, Sheep Pond Partners were devastated as was her trainer, Chad Brown, and his crew. She had quickly endeared herself as one of the barn favorites.

Bred by Runnymeade Farm and Catesby Clay in Kentucky, Lady Eli won her debut at Saratoga by a nose before stepping up in the Miss Grillo Stakes (Gr. IIIT) and Breeders' Cup Fillies Turf (Gr. IT) to close out her 2-year old campaign. She won both.

She began her 3-year old season as stylishly as she’d ended her last season, with a win at Keeneland in the Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (Gr. IIIT) and the wonder Again Stakes. This was followed by the Belmont Oaks Invitational where she served notice her Breeder’s Cup juvenile win was not a fluke.

On August 27, 2016, The Lady returned to Saratoga where she ran in the Woodford Ballston Spa Stakes  (Gr. IIT) where she was defeated by ¾ length. Her next foray was the (Gr. IT) Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont where she floated that muscular brown body over the turf for a win.

Back at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup for the Filly and Mare (Gr.1T) The Lady looked like she was going to get there but lost by a nose to Queen’s Trust. After which The Lady would have a well deserved break.

In April, back to the Coolmore Jenny Wiley (Gr 1T) where The Lady lost by a head to Dickinison. Then onto a three-race win streak including the Gamely Stakes (Gr. IT), Diana Stakes (Gr. IT) and last week-end’s Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (Gr. IIT). Irad Ortiz, Jr. had plenty of horse underneath him and took his time until right before the turn where Lady Eli ran into a wall of horses and went around them, she was so much the best, she just kept going. It was a fabulous performance for the filly with the big heart who had overcome so much in her short life.

We will only see Lady Eli race one or two more times, as Sheep Pond Partners is putting her in the Keeneland Fall sale. They are not in the business of breeding, just racing. We will remember Lady Eli’s courage both on and off the track and the sheer brilliance she exudes with every stride.