Bred in Kentucky by Desperado Stables, Inc., Spring Elusion commanded a field of five sophomore fillies in fine fashion to become Elusive Quality’s 71st winner in the first five months of 2008.
With jockey Kent Desormeaux up, the sophomore filly was an immediate factor in the seven-furlong sprint; pressing ahead in sloppy conditions around Belmont’s wide turn and running on to an impressive seven and one-quarter length score in a $52,000 Maiden Special Weight on May 31.
In each of her two previous starts, Spring Elusion showed enormous promise whilst dueling for a large share of each purse. Though unlucky when five wide in her last out, she came within a neck of breaking her maiden when missing to the $3.2 million yearling sale acquisition, Charming at Keeneland. Since then, Spring Elusion has progressed well under the care of trainer John C. Kimmel, having three solid half-mile works before taking on Phipps Stables’ With Flying Colors, a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly winner My Flag, who finished strongly in second.
Spring Elusion was held safe for $200,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September Sale and now races for the partnership of Robert N. Clay, Thistle Spring Stables and Richard Nit. Clay has previously raced several grand fillies including Eclipse Award winner Hidden Lake, Gorgeous, and Seaside Attraction. In 1983, Clay was also directly involved in the syndication of Spring Elusion’s broodmare sire, Slew o' Gold.
At three, Spring Elusion has now tallied $44,800 from three outings this year. She is a half-sister to a Canadian black-type earner, Autumn Snow, and reigns from the family of Nijinsky II’s graded winner Summer Fling, runner-up in the G1 Alabama S.
