Lady Eli Survives Diana Inquiry

An incident at the start and a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run did not deter Lady Eli from her fifth grade 1 victory.

Sheep Pond Partners' 5-year-old daughter of Divine Park drifted in significantly under Irad Ortiz Jr. while running down pacesetter Quidura in the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T) July 22 at Saratoga Race Course, but the stewards ruled for no change to the order of finish. 

Most impacted in the last sixteenth of the 1 1/8-mile test was Juddmonte's Antonoe, who was checked by Javier Castellano after she tried to close up the rail in the final strides. 

Antonoe caused some drama of her own at the start, when she broke through the gate before the race. She was pulled up by Castellano and returned to post 2, while Lady Eli also broke open her gate, but remained in the hands of the assistant starter in post 3. Both are trained by Chad Brown.

Off to a good official start after a short delay, Lady Eli rated kindly for Ortiz behind Quidura's fractions of :23.59, :47.51, and 1:11.46. She mounted her bid three wide off the far turn, and charged home through a 1:34.54 mile to secure the win by a head.

The final time was 1:46.17 on a turf course rated firm.

Lady Eli, the 4-5 favorite in a field of six, returned $3.90, $2.70, and $2.10. Quidura paid $5.10 and $3.10 at odds of 7-1, while 5-2 Antonoe brought $2.60. Harmonize, Dickinson, and My Impression completed the order of finish.