Unbeaten Lady Eli soars into poll off Belmont Oaks win

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Undefeated filly Lady Eli galloped into this week's NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll after winning Saturday's Belmont Oaks.

Trained by Chad Brown for Sheep Pond Partners, Lady Eli captured the $1 million Oaks and entered the top 10 in fifth-place with 189 points.

The 3-year-old won the 1 1/4-mile stakes to remain perfect in her six lifetime starts, including all three this year. Her biggest previous win came in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

"The term 'breathes different air' gets thrown around a lot when someone has a very good horse, and I've been lucky to have some great turf fillies and mares, but this one 'breathes different air' for sure," said Brown.

The first four in the voting remain unchanged from last week.

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah again received all 46 first-place votes for 460 points followed by Shared Belief (357), Honor Code (346) and 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (291).

Sitting sixth is Noble Bird (135) with two-time champion Beholder (96) seventh.

Entering the poll in the eighth spot is Private Zone, winner of Saturday's $400,000 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes. The 6-year-old gelding, trained by Jorge Navarro for Good Friends Stable, has 93 points.

"Good performance, we were expecting this," said Navarro. "It was a team effort, our plans were to give him some time off but he came back so good after the race (Met Mile, June 6) right here. We'll see how he comes out of this first but our next target is the Forego (Aug. 29, Saratoga Race Course]."

Lea (71) and Suburban Handicap runner-up Tonalist (64) complete the top 10.

The National Poll continues through the Breeders' Cup.