NEW YORK (AP) Lady Eli remained unbeaten with a half-length victory over Heath on Sunday in the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Belmont Park.
Lady Eli improved to 5 for 5 for trainer Chad Brown, including a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita last October. The latest win was a stiff test as she overcame a slow pace set by Pine Needles, and a traffic jam in the stretch to prevail as the 1-5 favorite.
''For her being as big as she is, being bottled up like that is pretty challenging,'' Brown said. ''But she got through and won geared down again.''
Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.94.
By finishing 1-2, Lady Eli and Heath both earned invitations to the $1 million Belmont Oaks on July 4.
Lady Eli paid $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10.
Heath returned $7.90 and $4.70 while Pine Needles paid $3.20 to show.
