Lady Eli, Sunset Glow return in Appalachian

Lady Eli got the best of Sunset Glow in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (Breeders’ Cup Ltd.) The last time either Lady Eli (Divine Park) or Sunset Glow (Exchange Rate) were seen in competition, the former slipped through on the rail to swoop past the pacesetting Sunset Glow and draw off for a 2 3/4-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park. That, combined with her unbeaten three-for-three mark, was enough for Lady Eli to be a finalist for champion two-year-old filly, but she lost out to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway). While that latter filly has already returned to take her next three races, Lady Eli was given a nice long vacation but is ready to get back to work as the top draw in Sunday’s $125,000 Appalachian S. (G3) at Keeneland. She will face six rivals in that one-mile turf contest, including nemesis Sunset Glow. Lady Eli took her maiden debut last August at Saratoga by just a nose before trainer Chad Brown shipped her to Belmont Park for the Miss Grillo S. (G3). The dark bay miss rallied for a three-length score that day, and easily pulled away in the Breeders’ Cup once jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. got her to straighten her head in the lane.

The sophomore lass wintered in Florida but headed north in time to get a work
in at Keeneland on Monday, going five furlongs around the dogs on the yielding
green in 1:04 4/5. Ortiz will be back aboard Sunday as Lady Eli goes for win
number four.

Sunset Glow will be looking to turn the tables on her rival while making just
her third start on turf. The Wesley Ward pupil made her racing debut on the
synthetic Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs last May before heading to Belmont Park
for a turf maiden victory.

Her connections believed they had something special in Sunset Glow and
demonstrated that when shipping her overseas to Royal Ascot to compete in the
June 20 Albany S. (Eng-G3). Sunset Glow vindicated that faith with a nice
second, and returned two months later at Del Mar to take both the Sorrento S.
(G2) and Del Mar Debutante (G1) on the synthetic Polytrack.

The gray lass was best of the rest in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Turf, and gets a jockey switch to Joel Rosario in her sophomore bow.

Mizz Money (Mizzen Mast) is the only other stakes winner in the Appalachian,
having captured the Allen LaCombe Memorial S. for trainer Bernie Flint.
Completing the field are Miss Temple City (Temple City), third most recently in
the January 24 Sweetest Chant S. (G3); Tiger Ride (Candy Ride), fourth last
month in the Florida Oaks (G3); Urtheoneeyelove (Congrats), sixth in the
Bourbonette Oaks (G3) on March 21; and stakes-placed Late Spring (Speightstown),
sixth in the Jessamine S. (G3) when last seen during Keeneland’s 2014 fall meet.

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