Elle Z leads all the way in Mardi Gras Stakes

Elle Z won her third race in a row and ninth from 18 career starts when going wire to wire under Mitchell Murrill in the $75,000 Mardi Gras Stakes on Tuesday at Fair Grounds.

The Mardi Gras, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, appeared to have multiple pace players – but that appearance was deceiving. Elle Z, as is her wont, quickly made the front and set pressure-free splits of 22.75 seconds and 45.86 on the way to a final time of 1:03.95 over a firm course. Goin Good tried hard in her first race after a layoff and finished a solid second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Change of Control, the 11-10 favorite, broke poorly and had too much ground to make up, checking in a well-beaten third.

Elle Z last month in the Fred Aime Memorial battled back after being headed by Change of Control in midstretch. No such dramatics were required on Mardi Gras Day. Change of Control, a winner of two graded turf-sprint stakes during 2021, was racing for the second time following a layoff and figured to have more upside on the day than Elle Z, who was making the fifth start of a form cycle that began Nov. 10. But Elle Z just keeps producing strong performances and now has a 6-4-2-0 record racing over the Fair Grounds turf course.

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Murrill rode Elle Z ($4.80) for trainer Chris Hartman and owner M Bar O LLC. Five-year-old Elle Z, bred by W.S. Farish and Lazy F Ranch, is a daughter of City Zip and Court Appeal, by Candy Ride.