Lady Eli romps in return to Ballston Spa
By David M. Johnson SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » With three of the five entries in the race, the Chad Brown barn was armed to the teeth for the Ballston Spa.
Especially since the trio was led by first-choice Lady Eli.
The 5-year-old filly sat off the pace, was guided into space on the center of the course by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., then sped past all rivals to win the Grade II $400,000 Ballston Spa Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
“She Brown, is amazing,” a Mechanicville native said. “I’m so glad we decided to bring her here today, for a lot of reasons. We got a good race into her again and most important, all the fans at Saratoga and beyond got to see her race here one more time.”
Lady Eli was undefeated in six starts when she nearly lost her life after falling ill with laminitis. She not only recovered, but returned to the track for the first time in last year’s Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
Lady Eli was second best to Strike Charmer in 2016. She was much the best Saturday.
Second-choice Dickinson set fractions of 24.34 and 48.92 while Lady Eli stalked the pace in fourth, about four lengths behind. She got caught behind Dickinson and On Leave as the field turned from home, but shot through a gap when daylight appeared between the two.
“I saved ground on the first turn and then split some horses,” Ortiz said. “When I dug in, I asked her and she was there for me.”
Lady Eli drew away down the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Dickinson held on to second to edge Roca Rojo by a neck. Antonoe was fourth and On Leave fifth.
“There wasn’t much pace so we opted to go to the lead. We couldn’t hold off Lady Eli, but we ran a good second,” Dickinson trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Second-best twice today (also Takaful in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens earlier). It happens like that some days but we’re proud of her race. Obviously we would like to keep going with her.
The winning time on a firm Mellon Turf course was 1:39.70 and Lady Eli paid $3.40 to win.
The victory improved the 5-year-old Divine Park mare’s record to 10-3-0 from 13 starts. She now has $2,939,800 in career earnings.
“She’s my favorite,” Ortiz said. “I have been on her for her whole life. I’m just excited for her and I’m excited that we won another race.”