Lady Eli back on work tab, eyes Jenny Wiley

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The turf star Lady Eli was on the work tab for the first time since her nose defeat in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf; the 5-year-old mare breezed three furlongs in an easy 37.90 seconds Saturday over the Palm Meadows turf.

“It looked like she was just galloping down the lane,” said Chad Brown, who trains Lady Eli for the Sheep Pond Partners. “She was moving very smoothly, which was the most important thing I was looking for. Hopefully, this gets her started on a regular work schedule” of every seven days or so.

Brown is eyeing the April 15 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland as a possible comeback spot for Lady Eli, a winner in seven of nine career starts.

Meanwhile, Brown said a stakes might be next for Conquest Babayaga, who won the first race here Sunday by a one-length margin that does not reveal how easily she did it. The 4-year-old filly was making her first start since being acquired by Louis Lazzinnaro out of the Conquest Stables dispersal last fall.

“I really liked her race,” Brown said. “We’ll look around and see what’s next.”