Gold Mark Farm LLC’s ELUSIVE LADY (Van Nistelrooy) moved to the front despite
being bumped at the start of Sunday’s $106,600
Tempted
S. (G3), set the pace through splits of :23 2/5, :47 3/5 and 1:13 1/5, then
drew away in the stretch for an easy 4 3/4-length score while making her stakes
debut under Eibar Coa. The John Kimmel-trained gray lass was the 5-1 third pick
in the five-horse field and gave back $13.60, $5.80 and $2.70 while finishing a
mile on Aqueduct’s fast dirt in 1:38 2/5.
Meriwether Jessica (Freud) came three wide on the turn to challenge in the
stretch, but had no answer for the winner, settling for second at 7-1 to pay
$6.90 and $2.90 while ending the $68.50 exacta. Even-money favorite Sunday
Holiday (Sunday Break [Jpn]) found herself trapped on the rail behind the winner
and inside of the runner-up in the stretch run. She gave up the ghost late to
finish another length back in third, returning $2.10 and completing the $163.50 trifecta (4-5-6). Hope Bay (Smart Strike) followed
another 7 1/4 lengths adrift, and According to Plan (Out of Place) rounded out
the field. Dagger (Tactical Cat) was withdrawn.
Elusive Lady made her racing debut at Saratoga, finishing sixth, then broke
her maiden next out at Belmont Park by three parts of a length prior to this
one. She’s accumulated $96,538 in earnings, already surpassing her sales price
of $90,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.
“In her first start, she took a lot of kick back,” Kimmel explained away her
unencouraging bow. “Her head was up in the air and she was pretty much climbing
the whole way. She had a much better trip in her second start.
“She wasn’t blowing very hard in the winner’s circle (here),” he added. “She
certainly didn’t look very stressed out. We will point her for the (November 24)
Demoiselle ([G2] at Aqueduct).”
Bred in Florida by Donald L. Ming, the juvenile miss is out of the unraced
Song of Royalty (Unbridled’s Song) and has an unnamed yearling half-brother by
Macho Uno.