Lady Eli Continues Comeback in F&M Turf

That Lady Eli would be in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), fresh off another grade I triumph and looming strong as ever over her division, was a scenario her connections didn't dare let cross their minds this time a year ago.

Flashback 12 months to when the daughter of Divine Park was on the mend after developing laminitis in both front feet, following a freak incident in which she stepped on a nail. In her battle against the disease that too routinely claims too many, her unbeaten record and her previous grade I form all took a backseat to the goal of making sure she lived to see another day.

There are comebacks, and then there is what Sheep Pond Partners' Lady Eli has done since her return to the races barely three months ago. With her health on point and her talent wicked as ever, the 4-year-old filly remarkably heads into the Nov. 5 Filly & Mare Turf in her usual spot as the one to beat.

In her first start in more than a year, Lady Eli suffered her first loss but prevailed in every other sense when she fell just three quarters of a length short of winning the Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course. The fairy tale would materialize Oct. 8, though, as the dark bay filly utilized a stalk-and-pounce trip to triumph in the Flower Bowl Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park, her seventh win from eight starts and third grade I victory.

NOVAK: Lady Eli Ruthless in Flower Bowl

The first grade I win for Lady Eli came at Santa Anita Park in 2014, when she had many declaring her the best juvenile filly in training following her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT).

"She's a remarkable horse. She's been able to do what a lot of horses can't do, and has come back from laminitis, not only to survive, but to make it all the way back into top form," said trainer Chad Brown. "I'm very excited to bring her back to Santa Anita again."

Lady Eli drew post No. 8 in the 13-horse field for the Filly & Mare Turf.

Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse captured last year's Juvenile Fillies Turf and—like Lady Eli—was considered the best 3-year-old turf female in training with a win in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (gr. IT) July 9. Things haven't gone as smoothly for the daughter of City Zip   in her last two outings, however, as she suffered her first loss on turf in the Aug. 21 Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) then faded to seventh in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane's End (gr. IT) Oct. 15. 

Catch a Glimpse will need her trademark early speed when she breaks from post No. 2 with Javier Castellano taking over the reins from Florent Geroux, who has commited to ride Sea Calisi.

Ramona Bass's Avenge has the advantage of owning a win over the new Santa Anita turf course, taking the Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) in gate-to-wire fashion Oct. 1. Al's Gal validated her runner-up effort behind Sea Calisi (FR) in the Aug. 13 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) by earning her first top-level score in the Oct. 16 E.P. Taylor Stakes Presented by HPIBet (Can-IT) at Woodbine. 

Multiple group I winner Seventh Heaven was fifth in her most recent start but defeated eventual Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Found in the Aug. 18 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I).