Eclipse Award winner Lady Eli (Divine Park–Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado), a Grade I winner each year from age two to five and described by Chad Brown as “the best turf horse I've ever trained,” will be offered in foal to War Front by John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm at this year's Keeneland Breeding Stock November Sale, it was announced Saturday.
Bred in Kentucky by Catesby W. Clay and Runnymede Farm Inc., Lady Eli–also a graduate of Keeneland's September and April 2-Year-Old sales–was perfect in three starts as a juvenile, including the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf, and tacked on three consecutive victories as a 3-year-old, capped by a rousing success in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational.
On her way back to the barn following the latter effort, Lady Eli stepped on a nail, but bravely fought and overcame a bout with laminitis to return to the races in the second half of 2016, winning the GI Flower Bowl S. before just being outfinished by a nose in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Allowed to train on in 2017, Lady Eli atoned for a narrow defeat in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S. with scores in the GI Gamely S., the GI Diana S. and the GII Ballston Spa S. and was retired with a record of 14-10-3-0 and earnings of $2,959,800.
“I can't say enough about this horse,” said Brown. “She has the heart of a champion. She is equine perfection. She is the personification of world-class talent, courage, precocity, soundness and, above all, the will to win. Lady Eli always brought her best game. She didn't need a race track, a condition, a position in the race or a distance, and she certainly never needed an excuse. It's unlikely I will ever have another one like her.”
Sol Kumin of Sheep Pond Partners added, “She is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime animal. She gave me, my family, my partners and, just as importantly, racing fans around the world the most memorable performances, which will live within me forever.”
“Lady Eli was the ultimate champion,” said Sikura. “She was an elite performer every year and won Grade I races on both coasts, including the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Ultra-consistent in delivering elite performances, she is the rarest of champions with a will to win and tenacity to match her matchless talent.
“Lady Eli was an extraordinary race mare who will be a highly sought-after jewel for breeders, especially offered in foal to leading sire War Front,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “Keeneland is honored to have the opportunity to offer such a brilliant champion, who will undoubtedly attract interest from buyers around the world.”
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