Ever Elusive another live one

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Except when his public stable was in its formative stages in the late 1990's, this is the first Churchill Downs spring meet where Todd Pletcher has been active on a daily basis. And even by Pletcher's lofty standards, the results have been exceptionally good.

As the 57-day meet winds to its July 16 conclusion, the Pletcher stable is the only one to have banked more than $2 million. Virtually any time a race of consequence has been run here this spring, Pletcher has been represented, a testament to the depth and quality of his far-flung stable and the exhaustive planning that he and his staff have undertaken.

Much of the credit for the local success must go to Michael McCarthy, the Pletcher assistant who once again will be front and center Tuesday, when he saddles Ever Elusive before the feature race, the $70,000 Lazer Show Stakes. is entered off a gritty victory in the May 27 Winning Colors Stakes and figures to be favored against five other fillies and mares in the 6 1/2-furlong Lazer Show.

"She hasn't missed a beat since the Winning Colors," said McCarthy. "She has two great works under her belt, and she looks super."

McCarthy and a full 36-horse complement of Pletcher horses will remain at Churchill for what figures to be a quiet summer. Stakes-quality horses such as Ever Elusive soon will be shipping out, to be replaced primarily by 2-year-olds or other horses who aren't quite race-ready.

McCarthy noted that Ever Elusive was considered for the Grade 2 Genuine Risk on Monday at Belmont Park, but, he said: "We're here to support Kentucky racing, and obviously this filly has an affinity for this racetrack. After this, she'll go back to Todd in New York, and if she steps up and runs another big race, I'm sure she'll be considered for the Ballerina," a Grade 1 race at Saratoga on Aug. 27.

Ever Elusive, a 4-year-old, will have a promising 3-year-old as her main rival: , an impressive winner of a June 8 allowance in her last start. Trainer Helen Pitts said the Aug. 5 Test Stakes will be a major consideration for Leah's Secret if she passes this test Tuesday.

The other Lazer Show starters are , Grand Portege, and Trolley's Last.

After Tuesday, Churchill goes dark before racing resumes Friday. Because of the irregular schedule, there is no handicapping contest this week. The finals are set for July 12.