Lady Eli has easy 5-furlong work in prep for BC Filly and Mare Turf

ELMONT, N.Y. - In a perfect example of how time doesn’t tell the story of a workout, Lady Eli’s five-furlong move Sunday at Belmont Park had her connections raving.

Lady Eli, preparing for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, went five furlongs in 1:03.17 in company with Sea Calisi, who is also pointing to the Filly and Mare Turf. Lady Eli was on the outside and going so easily that one wondered what she would have done had jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. asked her to do anything. The duo came home in 23.98 seconds and Lady Eli was up a length in a seven-furlong gallop out in 1:27.54.

The turf course was rated yielding on Sunday. As usual, a triple set of orange traffic cones, commonly referred to as dogs, were up, forcing the workers to be well out in the middle of the course.

“For me, since she’s come back today is the day she looked the closest to what she was before,” Ortiz said. “I’m very happy that she worked like that.”

Ortiz said that when Lady Eli would approach the wire in some of her previous works this year, “she would be getting in, turning her head. Today, she was strong and she just kept going after the wire and did everything right.”

Said trainer Chad Brown: “As good as I’ve seen her breeze, maybe ever. She was very, very strong this morning and throughout her work and came back as though she hadn’t even worked. She’s an amazing horse. That work was outstanding.”

Brown was happy with Sea Calisi as well. Sea Calisi has had just one race since winning the Beverly D. at Arlington on Aug. 13, that being a second-place finish to Lady Eli in the Flower Bowl.

“She got a lot out of that race and she should move forward,” Brown said.

Also at Belmont Park on Sunday, Brown worked Flintshire and Money Multiplier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Flintshire started the work a length behind Money Multiplier and gradually advanced on his stablemate even while remaining in hand under Javier Castellano. Flintshire went five furlongs in 1:02.80, Money Multiplier went the same distance in 1:03.00.

“They’ve been working together lately and they’ve been working together well,” Brown said. “I thought those horses were moving very well, pulled up well and should be plenty fit.”

Lady Eli, Sea Calisi, Flintshire and Money Multiplier were scheduled to ship to Southern California on Tuesday.

Brown flew eight of his Breeders’ Cup horses to Santa Anita on Sunday - Ticonderoga, Favorable Outcome, New Money Honey, Rymska, Wavell Avenue, Irish Jasper, A Lot, and Practical Joke.

Ectot sharp in work
Ectot, the horse who upset Flintshire in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, worked a sharp half-mile in 49.78 seconds over the Belmont turf course Sunday morning.

Under rider Jose Ortiz, Ectot went his first quarter in 26.55 seconds and his last quarter in 23.22. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.22.

“He’s got great action, he’s willing throughout, he galloped out strongly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Seems like he’s done everything you would hope after the Turf Classic win. He’s come back and trained super.”

Ectot won the Turf Classic on the lead as there was no pace in a four-horse field. Though the field for the Breeders' Cup Turf will be larger, Pletcher said he could see a scenario where Ectot is on the lead again.

“The key is getting him to relax, whether that’s on the lead or stalking somebody,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said Ectot will ship to Southern California on Tuesday along with Syndergaard, Theory, Sweet Loretta, Photo Call, and Keen Ice.

On Sunday, Curalina, Made You Look, and J.S. Choice shipped to California.

Ironicus works toward BC Mile

Ironicus, pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds over the Belmont main track Sunday morning, according to Belmont Park clockers. Trainer Shug McGaughey moved the work up a day due to rain forecast for Sunday evening and Sunday night.

“I had his last eighth in 11 and change by himself on the dirt, couldn’t do it any better,” McGaughey said. “I think he’s going to have a big chance. It’ll be a big field, whoever gets the trip, but I think he’ll run his race.”

Ironicus is due to ship to California on Tuesday.

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