Lady Eli Breeders’ Cup Bound after Flower Bowl Win
With her return to the winner’s circle in the $500,000 Flower Bowl (G1), Lady Eli earned a heartfelt ovation from the crowd at Belmont Park. That kind of recognition from the New York racing fans is very hard to earn and is reserved for very special horses, and very special occasions.
We all know the storyline of her successful battle against the dreaded ailment laminitis, followed by a tough second place finish in her return to the races at Saratoga after more than a year on the sidelines. So today, with a race under her belt, it was time to see if Lady Eli could return to the way she ran when she won her first six career starts.
Trainer Chad Brown said, "I wasn't concerned that was she wasn't going to be the same, based on her training. To my eye watching her train before the Ballston Spa and the Flower Bowl, this filly has been training as good as ever."
In the Flower Bowl she answered that question and earned a ‘Win and You’re In’ spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Friday, November 4.
"It takes such a rare horse to overcome what she has and to make it all the way back to center stage at the Breeders' Cup,” said Brown. “I think she's one of the all-time great turf mares, I really believe that."
The race began with Joel Rosario intent on putting Sentiero Italia right on the lead. Itsonlyactingdad settled in second a length behind the leader and Lady Eli and regular rider Irad Ortiz were content to sit in third in the two-path another length from the front. These three would stay in this position for the first mile of the ten-furlong contest which was run on the inner turf course. The fractions were steady and moderate – 23.99, 49.03, 1:13.73, and 1:37.03.
Heading into the clubhouse turn, Ortiz readied Lady Eli for her final run. Itsonlyactingdad dropped out of contention and Lady Eli swung out a bit wide in the turn. When Ortiz asked Lady Eli for her best, she cocked her head a bit towards the stands and made her move. She got even with the very game Sentiero Italia and began to draw off. It was not easy by any means and Ortiz strongly urged Lady Eli all the way to the wire to a final margin of three-quarters of a length. The final time was a very serious 1:59.85.
Ortiz described the trip, "I got a good trip. We broke out of there and Senterio Italia had some speed so we sat right off of them. Then Pletcher's filly [Itsonlyactingdad, No. 3] showed some speed today, so we sat and I tried to wait as long as I could. I could have saved a little more ground but that's the way the trip was coming out and it worked out good for us. She was ready today."
Sea Calisi, who was also trained by Brown, came into the Flower Bowl with an impressive record including a win in the Beverly D (G1) at Arlington Park in August. She was able to rally, but could not overtake Sentiero Italia for second place.
For the victory Lady Eli will get a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup where she won the Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2014. The $300,000 winner’s share of the purse upped her career earnings to $1,829,800 and her record to 8: 7-1-0. At the windows she paid $3.70, 2.70, and 2.10 across the board. The $2 exacta with Sentiero Italia returned $12.80.
Looking ahead to the World Championships Brown added, "It'll be her third race off the layoff, she has a mile-and-a-quarter race under her belt now. She has a very good chance of getting the firm turf that she loves out at Santa Anita. She has a win out there already, although they have a new turf course, but I'm sure it's similar. If anything else, she's comfortable with the environment and shipping out there, so I'm excited to bring her into the Breeders' Cup."