Elle Z noses Change of Control in Fred Aime Memorial
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
The mare Elle Z typically wins races with her speed. On Saturday at Fair Grounds, she won the $75,000 Fred Aime Memorial Stakes with her heart.
Headed before the furlong grounds by formidable foe Change of Control, Elle Z battled back and won a head bob to capture the Aime by a nose.
By speed, heart, or whatever manner, Elle Z simply wins prolifically. The Aime, a turf sprint run at “about” 5 1/2 furlongs, marked her 17th race, and Elle Z has won eight of them.
In May 2020, Elle Z rallied from fourth to win her career debut, a maiden race at Will Rogers Downs, but that was the last time the mare passed a rival. In December 2020, Elle Z battled back after nearly being passed to win the Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds, but usually when she wins Elle Z leads from start to finish.
That’s how things began in the Aime, with Elle Z breaking like a shot under Mitchell Murrill to take command through a tepid opening quarter-mile in 23.23. Colby Hernandez brought Change of Control into the fray around the turn, his mount moving up to engage the leader before the quarter pole, gradually moving to the lead after the mares cornered for home. At the eighth pole, after a half-mile split of 47, Change of Control looked like a 1-5 shot, but Elle Z never stopped trying, getting back on terms in the waning strides and getting her nose down at the wire under stout encouragement from her jockey.
“I was a little discouraged when Colby’s horse got to me as quick as she did,” Murrill said. “Most of the time I don’t have to hit her.”
The top two finished well clear of third-place Brooke Marie. Winning time over a firm course with the temporary rail set at eight feet was 1:04.85. Elle Z paid $4 to win as the favorite, though she and Change of Control both were 2-1 until nearly the end of betting.
Chris Hartman trains Elle Z for M Bar O. The 5-year-old mare is by City Zip out of Court Appeal, by Candy Ride, and was bred in Kentucky by W S Farish and Lazy F Ranch.