Elle Z never headed in Nelson Menard Stakes
On paper, Elle Z looked like one contender among several in the $75,000 Nelson J. Menard Memorial Stakes. Out on the Fair Grounds grass course late Saturday afternoon, Elle Z made seven rivals look hapless, posting a front-running five-length turf-sprint score under Mitchell Murrill.
Elle Z broke like a rocket, set splits of 22.56 and 46.70 over a course rated “good,” and spurted away from the competition when Murrill asked her for run past the quarter pole. Payntdembluesaway turned for home within a length of Elle Z, and by the eighth pole Elle Z had opened a lead of four lengths. Murrill never cocked his crop as Elle Z impressively drew clear for a blowout victory.
She clocked 1:04.58 for about 5 1/2 furlongs (the temporary turf rail was set at 9 feet) and paid $6.60 as the second choice. She Can’t Sing rallied late, wide, and mildly to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of 9-5 favorite Time Limit.
Chris Hartman trains Elle Z, a 5-year-old by City Zip out of Court Appeal, by Candy Ride, for J.D. Osgood’s M Bar O. Elle Z, who races effectively on dirt, too, won for the seventh time in 16 starts.
