Elsa took command at the top of the stretch and pulled away to win the G3 Jimmy Durante Stakes by three widening lengths at Del Mar Nov. 24.
It was the first Graded Stakes victory for the two-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom, who races as a homebred for Godolphin. Elsa now has improved her record to two wins and a third-place finish in just four starts.
Ridden confidently by jockey Joe Bravo, Elsa raced in midfield, down along the inside rail, through the early stages of the eight-furlong turf contest. Moved to the clear on the outside after a half-mile, Elsa began closing rapidly on the leaders while sweeping wide on the far turn. The bay filly then took command at the top of the lane and drew off to win easily.
Elsa was bred in Kentucky and is out of Abtasaamah, a winning daughter of Distorted Humor. Abtasaamah is a half-sister to both Champion and Darley stallion, Midshipman and to Graded Stakes winner Fast Cookie, the dam of multiple G1 winner and Darley stallion, Frosted.
Winner of the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Dubai World Cup during his racing career, Animal Kingdom is the sire of such standouts as Untamed Domain - winner of the G2 Summer Stakes and second in both the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and G2 American Turf, and Peaceful State, winner of the Listed Adelaide Guineas in Australia.
Animal Kingdom will stand the 2019 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $15,000, stands and nurses.
