Wonder Again Next Step for Unbeaten Lady Eli

Undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. I) winner Lady Eli will headline the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles May 31 on the inner turf at Belmont Park.

 

Eight other fillies have been entered to challenge Sheep Pond Partners' Lady Eli, who enters off an easy victory in the Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (gr. IIIT) in her seasonal debut April 12 at Keeneland. The daughter of Divine Park   was sensational as a 2-year-old, picking up wins in a maiden race and the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont before going on to dominate the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park.

 

 

A bit of an added challenge Sunday will be stretching out to 1 1/8 miles. Both of her wins at Belmont last year were at 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Chad Brown does not foresee the added ground in the Wonder Again as a problem, nor Lady Eli's ultimate objective, the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) July 4.

 

"My feeling is she's talented enough, has a good enough mind, and relaxes enough to handle the stretch-out," Brown said. "We'll first try her at 1 1/8 miles, which she's never done before, and see how she handles it. If she does, we'll point her to (the Belmont Oaks)."

 

Now in its second year, the Wonder Again serves as the local prep for the $1 million Belmont Oaks on the July 4 Stars & Stripes Day card, which also features the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (gr. I) and four other graded stakes.

 

Among the fillies looking to hand Lady Eli her first defeat Sunday are Jon and Sarah Kelly's stakes-placed Pine Needles, Starlight Racing's Itsonlyactingdad, who enters off two straight turf wins for trainer Todd Pletcher, and Donegal Racing's Puca, who is grade II-placed on dirt.