Brown's change in tactics pays off for Lady Eli in Gamely

ELMONT, N.Y. - Though Lady Eli was heavily favored to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Chad Brown on Sunday morning had praise for his rider and mega-talented mare for getting the hard-fought victory.

With the Grade 1-winning mare Avenge looming as the lone speed in the Gamely, Brown felt he had to make a change in tactics to be successful. He had jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. keep Lady Eli closer to the pace than he typically does, and the move paid off as Lady Eli was able to corral Avenge and then hold off Goodyearforroses late to win the $300,000 Gamely by a half-length.

“I was very impressed with Avenge’s race in the Breeders’ Cup where she did all the heavy lifting and was still there at the end,” said Brown, referring to the Richard Mandella-trained mare who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, a length behind Lady Eli at second. “We didn’t want to take any chances of her getting way and Irad executed that beautifully and Lady Eli once again showed up with her best.

“I think it takes a great horse to take her out of her game and still win at the Grade 1 level,” Brown added. “I don’t think she really wants any part of attending a pace where they go three-quarters in 1:09-and-change. But she’s a brilliant race horse, I’m very proud of her and appreciate that we asked her to do that yesterday and she went ahead and did it.”

Lady Eli won for the eighth time in 11 starts. She has now won a Grade 1 stakes at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5. Her three losses have come by a total margin of one length. She also overcame a battle with the sometimes-fatal hoof disease laminitis, which kept her away from the races for 13 months.

Lady Eli earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for her Gamely effort.

Lady Eli is expected to be flown back to New York on Wednesday. Tentatively, Brown has three more races planned for Lady Eli this year, starting with the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga on July 22. Following that, she will most likely run in the Flower Bowl at Belmont Park on Oct. 8 and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

Meanwhile, Brown added another potential star to his female turf arsenal when Rubilinda overcame a slow start and some traffic in upper stretch to win her career debut by 3 1/4 lengths. In the process, she became the first foal by the European star Frankel to win a race in North America. Frankel was named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, for whom Brown worked several years before going out on his own in late 2007.

“So happy to have the honor of having the first Frankel North American winner; only fitting that we had it, I think,” Brown said. “She’d been a horse we’ve been anxious to get started for some time.”

Brown had trained Rubilinda at 2, but had to stop on her for minor issues. He had her entered in a maiden race at Belmont on May 6, but the race was rained off the turf. On Saturday she was off last, saved ground, ran into some traffic approaching the top of the stretch, then had to alter course dramatically in deep stretch before unleashing a powerful kick to get the win.

“She had to overcome a lot,” Brown said.

Rubilinda ran six furlongs in 1:08.72 and earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Brown said he would look at running Rubilinda in the $100,000 Wild Applause Stakes, a mile race for 3-year-old fillies June 24.

“I’m confident she’ll be able to get a mile - and maybe more,” Brown said. “So far, she looks like she came out of the race well.”