Living Easy, Speedster Elle Z Wires Menard — Little pressure up front and tough trips for late-runners aids the cause
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Living Easy, Speedster Elle Z Wires Menard
Little pressure up front and tough trips for late-runners aids the cause
New Orleans (January 1, 2022) – Proving quick through her early fractions and demonstrating time and again that she will not quit, M Bar O’s Elle Z loomed large over a field who, on paper, threatened to contest front running antics. But the gate-to-wire winner of the 3rd running of the $75,000 Nelson J Menard Memorial Stakes instead took it easy out front, and increased her margin of victory for trainer Chris Hartman.
“She’s one-dimensional,” regular jockey Mitchell Murrill said. “You let her do her thing, stay out of her way and hope she’s the best of the day.”
And best she was, though the other horses with early speed never mustered much, leaving her with plenty in the tank in the end. Setting fractions similar to the second race of the day–a maiden special weight turf sprint, the 2.30-1 second choice Elle Z cleared the field while chased by Payntdembluesaway (5.70-1) through the opening quarter in 22:56. Little changed by the time they hit the 2nd call at 46.70, but the presser was done for as new threats rounded the turn. Eventual second-place finisher She Can’t Sing (9.30-1) took the turn 4-wide and had to steady after bumping a foe coming out of the bend, making it impossible to catch Elle Z who had put too many lengths between her and her foes, cruising home in 1:04.58 for the 5 ½ furlongs on good turf. Up for third, 1.80-1 betting favorite Time Limit, who had traffic to contend with in the stretch after saving ground throughout. After a good break and a pocket trip, Yes It’s Ginger (10.40-1) managed 4th–another horse who would have benefited from faster fractions softening up Elle Z.
“She broke great today and put herself in a great spot,” Yes It’s Ginger’s rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. said. “Going around the turn I was right behind Elle Z knowing she would go on. Where we were from that position, I thought we were going to run her down.”
Accomplished on dirt and turf at Fair Grounds, having won a stakes race on each, Elle Z’s record is 16-7-3-0 racking up $355,283. Nailed by a nose last out in the Pan Zareta, today she never had to worry.
“She’s always been a good honest horse that tries 100%,” Murrill said. “Unfortunately the last time she did get nailed, but today she felt a little more relaxed in the post parade and leading into the first part of the race she was quite happy.”
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 150th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 109th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 25, 2021 through March 27, 2022. More information is available online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.
