Lady Eli poised for return in Ballston Spa

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The best story on Saturday’s 13-race Travers card is the return of Lady Eli, the undefeated filly who overcame a serious bout of laminitis to make it back to the races.

Unraced since winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 4, 2015, Lady Eli will take on seven opponents in the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares is race 12, immediately after the Travers.

Lady Eli, trained by Chad Brown, drew post 3 in a field of eight that includes Miss Temple City, who beat males in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile and was beaten just a neck when fourth in the Grade 1 Diana.

Lady Eli will have some pace help in the form of Sympathy, also trained by Brown.

The field includes Sentiero Italia, the winner of the Grade 2 Lake Placid and Grade 2 Sands Point at 3, and Onus, a graded stakes winner at 3 at Laurel.

The others entered are Sweet Acclaim, Excilly, and Strike Charmer.