Lady Eli (USA)
February 2, 2012 – Living
Divine Park (USA) x Sacre Coeur (USA), by Saint Ballado (CAN)
Family 22-d
February 2, 2012 – Living
Divine Park (USA) x Sacre Coeur (USA), by Saint Ballado (CAN)
Family 22-d
Lady Eli showed marked talent on the turf from the beginning of her career, but after stepping on a nail midway through her second season, she developed laminitis. Battling back from what is often a fatal condition, she returned to the highest level of competition, gaining a championship as a 5-year-old.
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,959,800
2014:
2015:
2016:
2017:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile and Intermediate categories on the 2015 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted American Pharoah (the American Horse of the Year) and 9 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Treve (winner of two French Group 1 races in 2015).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male) and 15 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Winx (the Australian Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2017 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted Arrogate (who earned his rating in the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 15 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Winx (the Australian Horse of the Year).
As an individual
Lady Eli is a good-sized, impressive but feminine mare. A bold, dominant filly who was unusually independent in her interactions with other horses, Lady Eli was willing and cooperative as a youngster but had gained a reputation for being tough by the time she went to her first sale. She became more aggressive as she progressed through her racing career, to the point that trainer Chad Brown put up orange traffic cones around the entry to the filly's stall to keep people out of her biting range. She was territorial about her stall and would kick her exercise rider, Walter Malasquez, if he did not leave immediately after removing her tack. She had a strong turn of foot and a very smooth, efficient gait. Her temperament has mellowed somewhat since she became a broodmare.
As a producer
As of January 31, 2025, Lady Eli has produced two named foals of racing age, including the winner Hms Endeavour (by War Front).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lady Eli was bred by Runnymede Farm and Catesby W. Clay. She was sold at the 2013 Keeneland September sale for US$160,000, she resold for the same amount at the 2014 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was owned by Sheep Pond Partners (Jay Hanley, Sol Kumin, et al.) and was trained by Chad Brown. She was regularly ridden by Irad Oritz Jr. She was consigned to the 2018 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to War Front, and was sold to John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms for US$4.2 million.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2008 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Divine Park, Lady Eli is inbred 5x4 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II and 5x5x5 to Nijinsky II’s sire, 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Bizzy Caroline (by Afleet Alex). She is also a half sister to Sacre Caroline (by Blame), dam of 2021 Hungerford Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Sacred (by Exceed and Excel).
The dam of Lady Eli, Sacre Coeur, is a half sister to 1994 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2) winner Changing Ways (by Time for a Change), dam of 2008 Dixie Stakes (USA-G2) winner Pays to Dream (by High Yield) and stakes winner Pumpkin Shell (by Lion Heart). She is also a half sister to 1995 Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner Jacodra’s Devil (by Devil’s Bag), to 1991 Potrero Grande Handicap (USA-G3) winner Jacodra (by Highland Park), and to Royal Run (by Wavering Monarch), dam of 1994 Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G2) winner Tejano Run (by Tejano) and 1996 Jersey Derby (USA-G2) winner More Royal (by Mt. Livermore); second dam of 2005 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Palace Episode, of 2012 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spring in the Air, and of 2016 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sweet Loretta; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Laughing Lashes, of English Group 2 winner Duke of Hazzard, and of Dona Nereyda R., the 2015 champion imported juvenile filly in the Dominican Republic.
Sacre Coeur was produced from the Green Dancer mare Kazadancoa, whose stakes-winning full sister The Dancer is the dam of listed stakes winners Mack the Knife (by Kris) and Pretty Lady (by High Top) and third dam of 2004 Japanese champion 3-year-old male and important sire King Kamehameha, multiple Group 1 winner Musir, 2000 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner The Deputy, multiple South African Group 2 winner Merhee, and South African Group 3 winner Moofeed. Produced from the Charlottesville mare Khazaeen, Kazadancoa is a half sister to The Dundass (by Amber Rama), a stakes winner in Trinidad and Tobago, and is also a half sister to Beaming Bride (by King Emperor), dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Alwuhush (by Nureyev), 1993 Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Husband (by Diesis), multiple Grade 2 winner Simply Majestic (by Majestic Light), and French listed stakes winner Pia Bride (by El Gran Senor).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 31, 2025
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,959,800
2014:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Miss Grillo Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Belmont)
2015:
- Won Belmont Invitational Oaks Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Belmont)
- Won Appalachian Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Keeneland)
- Won Wonder Again Stakes (USA, 9FT, Belmont)
2016:
- Won Flower Bowl Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Saratoga)
2017:
- Won Diana Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Saratoga)
- Won Gamely S. (USA-G1, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Saratoga)
- 2nd Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (2017)
- Eclipse Award runner-up, American champion juvenile filly (2014)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile and Intermediate categories on the 2015 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted American Pharoah (the American Horse of the Year) and 9 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Treve (winner of two French Group 1 races in 2015).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted Arrogate (the American champion 3-year-old male) and 15 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Winx (the Australian Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2017 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 17 pounds below highweighted Arrogate (who earned his rating in the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 15 pounds below the top turf filly or mare, Winx (the Australian Horse of the Year).
As an individual
Lady Eli is a good-sized, impressive but feminine mare. A bold, dominant filly who was unusually independent in her interactions with other horses, Lady Eli was willing and cooperative as a youngster but had gained a reputation for being tough by the time she went to her first sale. She became more aggressive as she progressed through her racing career, to the point that trainer Chad Brown put up orange traffic cones around the entry to the filly's stall to keep people out of her biting range. She was territorial about her stall and would kick her exercise rider, Walter Malasquez, if he did not leave immediately after removing her tack. She had a strong turn of foot and a very smooth, efficient gait. Her temperament has mellowed somewhat since she became a broodmare.
As a producer
As of January 31, 2025, Lady Eli has produced two named foals of racing age, including the winner Hms Endeavour (by War Front).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lady Eli was bred by Runnymede Farm and Catesby W. Clay. She was sold at the 2013 Keeneland September sale for US$160,000, she resold for the same amount at the 2014 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. She was owned by Sheep Pond Partners (Jay Hanley, Sol Kumin, et al.) and was trained by Chad Brown. She was regularly ridden by Irad Oritz Jr. She was consigned to the 2018 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to War Front, and was sold to John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms for US$4.2 million.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2008 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Divine Park, Lady Eli is inbred 5x4 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II and 5x5x5 to Nijinsky II’s sire, 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Bizzy Caroline (by Afleet Alex). She is also a half sister to Sacre Caroline (by Blame), dam of 2021 Hungerford Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Sacred (by Exceed and Excel).
The dam of Lady Eli, Sacre Coeur, is a half sister to 1994 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2) winner Changing Ways (by Time for a Change), dam of 2008 Dixie Stakes (USA-G2) winner Pays to Dream (by High Yield) and stakes winner Pumpkin Shell (by Lion Heart). She is also a half sister to 1995 Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner Jacodra’s Devil (by Devil’s Bag), to 1991 Potrero Grande Handicap (USA-G3) winner Jacodra (by Highland Park), and to Royal Run (by Wavering Monarch), dam of 1994 Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G2) winner Tejano Run (by Tejano) and 1996 Jersey Derby (USA-G2) winner More Royal (by Mt. Livermore); second dam of 2005 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Palace Episode, of 2012 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spring in the Air, and of 2016 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sweet Loretta; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Laughing Lashes, of English Group 2 winner Duke of Hazzard, and of Dona Nereyda R., the 2015 champion imported juvenile filly in the Dominican Republic.
Sacre Coeur was produced from the Green Dancer mare Kazadancoa, whose stakes-winning full sister The Dancer is the dam of listed stakes winners Mack the Knife (by Kris) and Pretty Lady (by High Top) and third dam of 2004 Japanese champion 3-year-old male and important sire King Kamehameha, multiple Group 1 winner Musir, 2000 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner The Deputy, multiple South African Group 2 winner Merhee, and South African Group 3 winner Moofeed. Produced from the Charlottesville mare Khazaeen, Kazadancoa is a half sister to The Dundass (by Amber Rama), a stakes winner in Trinidad and Tobago, and is also a half sister to Beaming Bride (by King Emperor), dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Alwuhush (by Nureyev), 1993 Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Husband (by Diesis), multiple Grade 2 winner Simply Majestic (by Majestic Light), and French listed stakes winner Pia Bride (by El Gran Senor).
Fun facts
- Lady Eli was named in honor of co-owner Sol Kumin’s wife, Elizabeth Linari (née Isola).
- Lady Eli was one of two top-class horses who returned to win Grade 1 events in 2017 after going through a bout with laminitis. The other was the imported Brazilian superstar Bal a Bali, who won the 2017 Shoemaker Mile Stakes and Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. It is extremely rare for a horse that has suffered severe laminitis to return to racing at all, let alone at the highest level.
- In her only unplaced run, Lady Eli suffered multiple cuts to her legs and lost a shoe during the running of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The injuries were serious enough that she was withheld from being sold for a full year while she healed.
- While in Chad Brown’s stable, Lady Eli was known as “Big Momma.”
Last updated: January 31, 2025