Four weeks ago, Elle Z and Change of Control put on a show in the Fred P. Aime Memorial with the former prevailing by a nose. In Tuesday's $75,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots, that anticipated battle lost all chance to materialize when Change of Control hopped at the start and spotted her speedy foe several lengths.
Not that she needed a head start, but Elle Z surely capitalized on her main rival's early misfortune.
“I didn't know,” said winning jockey Mitchell Murrill, who captured three races on the card. “When that horse (Goin' Good) came up outside of me, I thought it was her (Change of Control). I just waited and waited until I knew I had to make a run, and when I did, she kicked on and wasn't challenged.”
On a clear length advantage through early fractions of :22.75 and :45.86, M Bar O's Elle Z, the 1.40-1 second choice, was chased throughout by Klein Racing's Goin' Good, who got a smidge closer at the top of the stretch, before being turned away and settling for second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.
Following the compromised start Perry Harrison's 1.10-1 favorite Change of Control, a two-time graded stakes winner who is now just one for eight over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course, rallied late to be third, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Sail On Ellen, Onerollofthedice, Skinny Dip and Elle's Town completed the order of finish.
Elle Z stopped the timer in 1:03.95 for 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm turf course.
“She's an awesome horse,” Murrill said of Elle Z. “She gives 110% every time she gets on that track. She's a horse to remember. I couldn't be more grateful. The connections do a great job with her.”
Elle Z, who won the Mardi Gras on dirt last year when it was forced off the turf, has now captured five stakes overall, and three in a row at Fair Grounds for trainer Chris Hartman. She raised her career record to 18-9-3-0 with a bankroll of $447,533.
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