Lady Eli, other Brown runners exit Super Saturday in good order

Edited Press Release

Trainer Chad Brown said his entire contingent came out of Super Saturday in fine form.

Brown won three stakes on the day, highlighted by Lady Eli's return to the winner's circle in taking the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) to clinch a spot in the Breeders' Cup on November 5 at Santa Anita Park.

Brown, who won his fourth Flower Bowl in six years, will now see Lady Eli compete in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The Sheep Pond Partners' four-year-old won her first start since her year-long layoff as she recovered from laminitis. Lady Eli finished second in her August 27 return in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2) but came back Saturday with a three-quarter-length win, registering a 1012 BRIS Speed rating.

"Lady Eli was impressive, it was a wide trip and she was able to overcome it all," Brown said. "I was really happy to see her win again. It takes such a rare horse to overcome what she has and to make it all the way back to the Breeders' Cup. I think she's one of the all-time great turf mares."

Sea Calisi, who made her first start since winning the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) on August 13 at Arlington, is also expected to join her stablemate at the Breeders' Cup after coming in third in the Flower Bowl. Owned by Martin Schwartz, Sea Calisi has finished off the board just once in 11 career starts.

"She ran good; she might have had a little too much spacing between races," Brown said. "I think she'll get a lot out of this race moving forward to the Breeders' Cup."

Practical Joke came out of his win in the Champagne Stakes (G1) in good order, Brown said. Practical Joke upset favorite Syndergaard by a nose to improve to three-for-three in his career, including his second Grade 1 win after capturing the Hopeful last month at Saratoga.

Practical Joke earned an automatic berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 5 at Santa Anita. The victory over Big Sandy also represented another Grade 1 victory on the main track for Brown, who said he is excited about the prospects for greater success on dirt.

"We have a lot more dirt prospects in the barn, particularly with our colts now," the conditioner noted. "We've been knocking on the door for some time with two- and three-year-olds in this division, so it's nice to finally break through in a race as big as the Champagne."

Favorable Outcome was making just his second career start and came in third in the Champagne for Brown. After breaking his maiden on August 20, Favorable Outcome, who like Practical Joke is owned by William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables, stalked the pacesetters and overtook Big Gray Rocket in the stretch.

"They both came out of the race good," Brown said. "Practical Joke was very impressive overcoming that start and being able to come up in time and win a close decision.

“I also thought Favorable Outcome was probably a little too close to that fast of a pace for him. I think he's better making one run, it might have taken away some of his kick being that close, but I thought he ran well to stay on for third."

Brown's runners came in the top three in the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) on Super Saturday, with Camelot Kitten, Beach Patrol and Annals of Time all finishing in the money. Both Camelot Kitten and Beach Patrol are now targeting the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) on December 3 at Del Mar.

Camelot Kitten, who is 4-1-0 in six graded stakes starts this year, defeated Beach Patrol by a head going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf. Brown said Annals of Time, who made his graded debut in just his third career race, could gain class relief in his next start.

"All three ran terrific, they all ran too good to lose, but one of them was able to be the winner and the other two ran great in defeat," Brown said. "For Annals of Time, I may take a more conservative route developing him. I asked a lot of him. He ran well, but I won't be asking him to run a Grade 1 just yet."

Lady Eli photo courtesy of Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos