Lady Eli, a fierce competitor on the racetrack, waged an even tougher battle in 2015 when she fought off and recovered from the often career-ending and potentially fatal hoof disease laminitis. Owner Hanley paid $160,000 for Lady Eli as a two year old in training, and her earnings now stand at just over $2.9 million. She is scheduled to be sold at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale a few days after the Breeders’ Cup. She faces several tough competitors, including, last year’s champion, Queen’s Trust, who comes into defend her title. But her recent form suggests that she may find it difficult to take on this year’s deep field.
War Flag has earned her way into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf the hard way. She worked her way up the ranks of American racing in four starts this year, slowly improving with each effort. She then ran the race of her life against her toughest competition last out to earn a ‘Win and You’re in’ berth for owner Allen Stable and trainer Shug McGaughey. War Flag is a full-sister to $2-million earner Lines of Battle, winner of the UAE Derby and second in the Hong Kong Cup. Her mother was a half-sister to the late great sire Dynaformer and she is just beginning to live up to her hefty pedigree with earnings of $454,660 and a record of 9-5-3-1 going into her Del Mar showdown. War Flag, who edged fellow Filly & Mare Turf entrants Dacita and Grand Jete in the Gr.1 Flower Bowl Stakes.
Owner Robinson has campaigned some of his own horses but none as accomplished as Cambodia. His homebred winners include her dam Sassifaction. “I’ve had this filly’s entire family, it’s the ultimate breeder’s reward,” he said after the Yellow Ribbon. “This is the biggest thrill of my life. This is only my third visit and it’s an amazing thrill to come here and win this race.”
Godolphin owned Wuheida takes a gamble in this race with just 2 wins under her belt from from 6 starts.
As far as the owner of the Irish-bred filly is concerned, Rhododendron walks on hallowed ground. She is considered one of Europe’s best fillies and is scheduled to make her American debut in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She earned her chance by taking the “Win and You’re In” Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly. The plain bay filly may not be flashy in appearance, but she has pedigree of racing royalty. Her father is Galileo is one of the world's leading stallions. Her mother, Halfway to Heaven, was one of the best European fillies of her generation, winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes in 2008.
For Ladi Eli, Rhododendron is the one to beat.
| Gate | Horse Name | Age | Origin | Pedigree | Trainer | Owner | Jockey | Race Form |
| 1 | War Flag | 4 | USA |
War Front-Black Speck (Arch) |
Claude McGaughey III | Allen Stable, Inc. | Jose Ortiz | 9 Starts, 5 Wins |
| 2 | Senga | 3 | USA |
Blame-Beta Leo (A.P. Indy) |
Pascal Bary | Flaxman Stables Ireland L.T.D | Stephane Pasquier | 9 Starts, 3 Wins |
| 3 | Birdie Gold | 3 | USA |
Birdstone-Gold Revenue (Touch Gold) |
Juan Suarez Villarroel | Couet | Mike E. Smith | 5 Starts, 4 Wins |
| 4 | Zipessa | 5 | USA |
City Zip-Precious Princess (Horse Chestnut) |
Michael Stidham | Empyrean Stables | Joe Bravo | 16 Starts, 5 Wins |
| 5 | Wuheida | 3 | GB |
Dubawi-Hibaayeb (Singspiel) |
Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | James Doyle | 6 Starts, 2 Wins |
| 6 | Cambodia | 5 | USA |
War Front-Sassifaction (Smart Strike) |
Thomas Proctor | Winter Quarter Farm | Drayden Van Dyke | 13 Starts, 6 Wins |
| 7 | Dacita | 6 | CHI |
Scat Daddy-Daja (Seeker's Reward) |
Chad Brown | Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds | Joel Rosario | 20 Starts, 10 Wins |
| 8 | Grand Jete | 4 | GB |
Dansili-Modern Look (Zamindar) |
Chad Brown | Juddmonte Farms, Inc. | Javier Castellano | 13 Starts, 4 Wins |
| 9 | Lady Eli | 5 | USA |
Divine Park-Sacre Coeur (Saint Ballado) |
Chad Brown | Sheep Pond Partners | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 13 Starts, 10 Wins |
| 10 | Queen's Trust | 4 | GB |
Dansili-Queens Best (Kings Best) |
Mr Stoute | Cheveley Park Stud | Lanfranco Dettori | 12 Starts, 2 Wins |
| 11 | Nezwaah | 4 | GB |
Dubawi-Ferdoos (Dansili) |
Roger Varian | Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Lessee and Godolphin | Andrea Atzeni | 11 Starts, 5 Wins |
| 12 | Avenge | 5 | USA |
War Front-Lerici (Woodman) |
Richard Mandella | Ramona S. Bass, LLC | Flavien Prat | 16 Starts, 6 Wins |
| 13 | Goodyearforroses | 5 | IRE | Azamour-Guilia (Galileo) | Richard Baltas | Abbondanza Racing, LLC and Medallion Racing | Corey Nakatani | 19 Starts, 7 Wins |
| 14 | Rhododendron | 3 | IRE |
Galileo-Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal) |
Aidan O'Brien | Mme Magnier/M.Tabor/D.Smith | James Heffernan | 10 Starts, 4 Wins |
| 15 | Kitten's Roar | 5 | USA |
Kitten's Joy-Bambolina (War Chant) |
Michael Maker | Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. | John Velazquez | 18 Starts, 6 Wins |
| 16 | Responsibleforlove | 4 | IRE |
Duke Of Marmalade-Vee Gita (Vettori) |
Neil Drysdale | Team Valor International and Mrs. G. A. Rupert | Joseph Talamo | 11 Starts, 4 Wins |
1) War Flag
2) Ladi Eli
3) Rhododendron