Inveniam Viam makes Ellis Park Turf her first stakes triumph

Inveniam Viam was a productive allowance and claiming runner during her 3-year-old and a 4-year-old years. Now, as a 5-year-old under the training of Brad Cox, she has become something else: a stakes winner.

Saturday she notched the first such victory of her 24-race career in taking the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf by a half-length over pacesetting Corby, and in doing so recorded her fourth consecutive win in as many races since being claimed by Cox and owner Allied Racing Stable in January at Fair Grounds.

A Louisiana-bred daughter of Half Ours, she raced 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf in 1:41.35, paying $7.20 as the slight favorite.

“That last eighth I had to ask her very hard,” winning rider Manny Cruz said. “And she gave it to me harder and harder.”

Corby had enough to hold second after setting the pace, but was noticeably weary late, setting the stage for the winner to power past with a rally from the back of the pack. La Piba ran third.