Lady Eli Continues Comeback, Works Half-Mile

Undefeated Lady Eli returned to the Palm Meadows Training Center track March 14 for her third timed workout in her comeback from laminitis.

Keeping to her every-Monday work schedule, the 4-year-old daughter of Divine Park worked four furlongs in :49, her first half-mile breeze after a pair of three-furlong works.

Trainer Chad Brown was in Ocala, Fla., for the under tack show before the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March 2-year-olds in training sale, but said everything with the filly is "good so far."

Jay Hanley, who owns the undefeated Lady Eli with Sol Kumin under their Sheep Pond Partners banner, was also en route to the sale and hadn't talked to Brown after the work, but noted: "I'm sure Chad isn't asking her for anything yet, but the :49 flat was among the top two or three works at the distance. This being her first half-mile work, Chad must be feeling more confident with her.

"Sol and I have 100% faith in him to do what's right by her."

Lady Eli has won six starts and $1,449,800, including victories in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT). She stepped on a nail after the Belmont Oaks and has endured a comeback from laminitis. There is no timetable yet for her return to the races.