Lady Eli (Divine Park), who returned from a 14-month layoff to run a gritty second in Saturday's GII Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa S., could start next in the Oct. 8 GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. at Belmont Park.
“I'm disappointed she got beat, but it was a tall order, she hadn't run in 14 months, and they ran fast,” said trainer Chad Brown. “I didn't quite expect the race to go that fast. She just got a little tired at the end. Hopefully, she will get a lot out of that and move forward.”
Saturday's runner-up effort was the first loss in seven starts for Lady Eli, who suffered a severe bout of laminitis following her win in last year's GI Belmont Oaks.
The Flower Bowl is also the likely target for stablemate and GI Beverly D. S. winner Sea Calisi (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}). The 4-year-old filly worked four furlongs over the Oklahoma turf Sunday in :50.62.
“Just a maintenance work–stretched [Sea Calisi's] legs a little bit–worked terrific,” Brown said.
Brown added that Saturday's GI Sword Dancer Invitational winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will likely make his next start in the Oct. 1 GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.
“He's a remarkable horse, we're lucky to have him,” Brown said of Juddmonte's international star. “I'm not surprised anymore [by his races]. He came out of his victory great so far and we plan on the Joe Hirsch.”
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