Storyline: Lady Eli put in a dominating performance in the Belmont Oaks Invitational. At 6-0-0 does this filly have a weakness? Written by Joanne Prieto, Florida
She’s got style. She’s got grace. She’s a winner. She’s a lady.
Courtesy: ny-horseracing.com
Oh, whoa, whoa, she’s a lady? Ok, so the lyrics may be Anka’s, but the shoe fits and this four-legged lady is wearing it–along with the bulk of a million dollar purse.
If there was ever any doubt, Lady Eli put them to rest. On July 4th — and for the sixth consecutive time — she performed like the 1st Class Act she is, leaving her winning record intact at 6-0-0.
The sun had yet to set, but that didn’t stop Lady Eli and Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. They ignited their own fireworks by lighting up the racetrack in a dominating performance at the Belmont Oaks Invitational (Gr. 1). They ran away with the bulk of a million-dollar purse and a sure ticket to the Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf division.
It was a good day’s work … and they made it look like a stroll in the park. Now that takes talent!
Courtesy: americasbestracing.net
You say you missed it? Let’s recap.
From the start the pace was fast. Pine Needles and Jockey Jose Ortiz (post one) were quick to grab the lead, clearing themselves of any inside trouble. A Lukas’ trainee speedster by the name of Lady Zuzu, along with Jockey James Graham, came from the outside to challenge the leaders. By the time they had zipped through the first quarter, Lady Zuzu was in hot pursuit of no one but the purse as the clear leader by a margin of two to three lengths. She continued to set a fast pace as Pine Needles and Gypsy Judy, the latter ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, start closing in.
While the longer shots vied for upfront positions, like K-Mart shoppers at a Blue Light Special, the three favorites–Lady Eli, Outstanding, and Spanish Queen–were about mid-pack where they settled in for the majority of the race (apparently biding their time). Lady Eli was just off the rail in the clear. Irish-bred Outstanding with world-renowned jockey, Colm O’Donoghue, were between horses. First-class graded-stakes winner, Spanish Queen and Jockey Brice Blanc, ran from the rail.
At the turn for home Lady Eli moved further out with ease and began to close the distance between her and the leaders who, by now, were beginning to falter. Outstanding–from her place between horses–picked up the pace and started to gain ground. Spanish Queen, who’d been caliente in her four starts at Santa Anita (3-1-0), also looked to make a move. But she appeared to be cut off by German-bred, Olorda, and Hall of Fame Jockey, John Velazquez. A ditzy moment follows, and then passes. She starts to rally but, by that stage of the game, she had lost too much ground.
Courtesy: espn.go.com
Meanwhile, Lady Eli opened up her lead, leaving the competition chasing her tail. She finished the race at 1:59.27, nearly three lengths ahead of the rest. Itsonlyactingdad and Jockey Christophe Soumillon made the move to the outside to take 2nd Place. In third was Outstanding who continued to work her way between horses to claim 3rd Place. Sentiero Italia and Strict Compliance, along with Jockeys Luis Saez and Javier Castellano, respectively, tied for 4th.
Chad Brown, Lady Eli’s nerve-racked trainer, and Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. were confident they had the best horse. But they questioned the inside position (post 2), and whether it would compromise her trip, in a competitive field of 14 and at a distance she had never run. Neither proved to be a factor for this filly, though. She may have been helped by the fast pace. It leaves one to wonder: Does she have a weakness or is this classy lady also a freak of nature? We’ll have to tune in to find out.
Here’s how the rest of the field faired:
5-Consumer Credit and Junior Alvarado
6-Sharla Rae and Joel Rosario
7-Miss Chatelaine and Rajiv Maragh
8-Pine Needles and Jose Ortiz
9-Spanish Queen and Brice Blanc
10-Olorda and John Velazquez
11-Lady Zuzu and James Graham
12-Daring Duchess and Jose Lezcano
13-Gypsy Judy and Cornelio Velasquez.
