Lady Jila seeks five-peat in Columbine Stakes

Lady Jila will attempt to win the Columbine Stakes at Arapahoe Park for the fifth consecutive year on Sunday. Last year at age 9, she successfully defended her title in the race by getting up for a neck win.

The $30,000 Columbine, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, is one of two stakes on the card. The $40,000 Mount Elbert will be run at the same distance and is for 3-year-olds and up bred in Colorado.

Lady Jila spent some time in the $3,000 claiming ranks earlier in her career but has made a name for herself at Arapahoe, where she has earned all six of her stakes wins. Overall, the Arizona-bred mare has won 23 races and earned more than $300,000. She boasts a 14-for-26 record at Arapahoe.

The Columbine drew a field of nine, with Lady Jila to break from the widest gate. She is coming off a runner-up finish in a one-mile allowance at Arapahoe, beaten a head by Twisted Regan. Mike Ziegler has the mount on Lady Jila for Barro Racing and trainer O.A. Martinez Jr.

Twisted Regan also returns in the Columbine and will start as a leading contender alongside Prairie Meadows shipper Peppy Miller and Arapahoe allowance winner A J’s Grand.

In the Mount Elbert, Sky T will be making a rare start around two turns. He is stretching out off a runner-up finish in the $30,000 Front Range at six furlongs July 2 at Arapahoe. Sky T, a son of Mr. Trieste, won a one-mile allowance at Arapahoe last year. Scott Stevens, who is 3 for 6 in stakes at this meet, has the mount for trainer Kim Oliver.

Magical Twist, who won last year’s Mount Elbert, enters off a closing third-place finish in a one-mile allowance July 9 at Arapahoe.