Lady Eli (foaled February 2, 2012 in Kentucky) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse of 2017.
She extended her record to a perfect six wins from six starts in the 2015 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes but then stepped on a nail on her way back to the barn, which led to a life-threatening case of laminitis.
After a lengthy recovery, Lady Eli finished second in her August 2016 return to the racetrack, then won the Flower Bowl Stakes in October.
[3] In her next start in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont, Lady Eli was the fourth betting choice in a field of eleven.
[6] The quality of the field for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf was strong, with a good European contingent and stakes winners from across North America.
[9] Lady Eli was the runner-up[10] in the Eclipse Award voting for champion two-year-old filly, traditionally dominated by horses who run on the dirt.
Racing again behind the leaders, she was trapped when she tried to make her move and only got free in the final eighth of a mile, then rallied to win by half a length.
[15] Brown told Daily Racing Form that Lady Eli was in a "stable but guarded condition" and that she had "been fitted with special shoes for support on both front feet.
[21] On October 8, Lady Eli returned to the winner's circle in the Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park by 3⁄4 lengths at odds of 4–5.
She beat all of these but was caught in the final stride by Queen's Trust, a well-regarded English filly given a perfectly timed ride by Frankie Dettori.
Goodyearforroses made a late run and closed to within half a length but Lady Eli responded and stayed clear for the win.
When the race finally began, Lady Eli settled at the back of the pack then circled the field on the far turn as she started to close ground.
"[26] On August 26, Lady Eli entered the Ballston Spa Stakes in what would be her final appearance at Saratoga (it had been previously announced that she would be sold as a broodmare prospect at the Keeneland November sales.)
"She really is a horse of a lifetime", said Brown[27] Lady Eli made her final start in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on November 4.
[28] The day after the race, her connections announced she was expected to recover quickly but that she was being withdrawn from the Keeneland Sales to avoid putting added stress on her.
Lady Eli was sired by Divine Park, winner of the Metropolitan Handicap, when he was standing at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky.
Even further back, the family has produced numerous group winners, including Blushing Groom, King Kamehameha and Mill Reef.