Field can’t catch that Lady
Lady Eli overcomes starting gate issue to win Grade 1 turf feature
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Although fan favorite Lady Eli was the odds-on choice at 4-5 in Saturday’s $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1), a legitimate case could have been made for three of her rivals: fellow Grade 1 winners Dickinson and Antonoe and the upand-coming Quidura, the wiseguy choice at 7-1.
In the end, though, it was Lady Eli’s Day. The popular five-yearold mare, who has been involved in a number of tight races over the past year — her last six have all been decided by three-quarters of a length or less — got by gutsy pacesetter Quidura in the final strides to post a head win in a thrilling edition of 1 1/8-mile turf staple.
In order for the result to become official, Lady Eli had to wait out an inquiry by stewards, who after a brief discussion, elected not to change the order of finish. Antonoe, was third, another length back. She was followed by Harmonize, Dickinson and My Impression. Antonoe and Lady Eli broke through the gate prior to the start.
“Today was one of her greatest races to date, maybe her best,” said winning trainer and Mechanicville native Chad Brown. “Giving eight pounds to the horse she ran down in the stretch after breaking through the gate, going a little wide — she just overcame everything. Today she proved she’s one of the all-time greats. She might have been undefeated. Three times she’s gotten beat late in the stretch from behind.”
Quidura, who had run very well in her four U.S. starts since coming over from Germany last year, made the front under Junior Alvarado, with Dickinson (7-2) tracking in second. Lady Eli was content to race in fifth down the backstretch, behind barn mate Antonoe.
Quidura was still there wheeling into the stretch, but Lady Eli was passing horses and coming hard on the outside. She moved alongside to challenge just outside the eighth pole. But Quidura, who had gotten away with a moderate three-quarters in 1:11.4, still had some fight left. Those two went nose-to-nose the rest of the way, with Lady Eli edging by late.
“I was happy (with the pace),” said Ortiz. “It was a perfect trip following them. She’s a nice filly, and she always shows up. I had a lot of patience and waited until I felt like I was going to get there, and then I didn’t hesitate. I never hit her; I rode her with confidence.”
Lady Eli, a daughter of Divine Park, out of the Saint Ballado mare Sacre Coeur, races for Sheep Pond Partners. The Diana was her fifth Grade 1 and sixth graded win over all. The $300,000 winner’s share boosted her lifetime earnings to $2,719,800.