Lady Eli Cruises to Appalachian Victory

Sheep Pond Partners' undefeated filly Lady Eli looked more than fresh off a five-month layoff with an easy victory in the Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (gr. IIIT) April 12 at Keeneland .



Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) winner, the daughter of Divine Park   left the gate at 2-5 odds and tracked early leader Sunset Glow—the same filly who led in the Juvenile Fillies Turf—before taking over in the stretch and cruising to a 2 1/2-length victory under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in her 3-year-old debut for trainer Chad Brown.

Miss Temple City rallied to finish second, a neck in front of Sunset Glow.

"You have these brilliant 2-year-olds and sometimes they don't all train on at 3," Brown said. "We gave her a little time off this winter, but all her works have been so strong and sharp, she gave every indication she was going to come back even better at age 3."



Sunset Glow opened up an easy length lead through opening fractions of :24.04 and :48.48, then saw her advantage slim to a half length after six furlongs in 1:12.75, before Lady Eli took over in the stretch and finished the mile in 1:35.80 on a turf course rated good.

"She had some time off, then came back today and you saw how she ran today," Ortiz said. "She did it easy. When I asked her, she took the lead. She did it easy then slowed down."

Lady Eli returned $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10. Miss Temple City delivered $6 and $3.40, and Sunset Glow paid $2.20 to show.

Along with her Juvenile Fillies Turf score, Lady Eli previously had victories in the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. IIIT) last September at Belmont Park after breaking her maiden going 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga Race Course turf last August.

Brown said he plans to return the filly to her home base at Belmont for the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes May 31, which he hopes will be a prep for the $1 million Belmont Oaks (gr. IT) July 4.



Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm and Catesby Clay from the Saint Ballado mare Sacre Coeur, Lady Eli remains unbeaten from four career starts and now has earnings of $794,800.

Urtheoneeyelovefinished fourth, followed by Tiger Ride, Mizz Money, and Late Springto complete the order of finish.