2001 Flower Bowl Invitational - Lailani Video

Lailani (GB), as imposing on this side of the Atlantic as she has been in England and Ireland, charged past favored England's Legend (Fr) in the stretch to take the $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1).

Lailani emerged as the likely favorite for the Filly and Mare Turf (G1) as she earned her seventh straight victory for Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum.

Lailani, treated with lasix for the first time, enjoyed a ground-saving trip under Jerry Bailey as England's Legend took the field of six through moderate fractions of :24.74, :48.16, 1:12.35, and 1:36.71 over a course that had plenty of give to it. In the stretch, Bailey swung the three-year-old daughter of Unfuwain out of Lailati, by Mr. Prospector, off the portable rail, set out nine feet, and she ran down her older, bigger rival to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.88.

"I didn't know what to expect from her since this was my first time riding her," Bailey said. "She handled everything great-the surroundings and all. I was pretty content with my spot inside. She accelerated pretty quickly on the turn, and I give her a lot of credit for running down England's Legend. She proved today that she has a lot of fight in her. This will definitely have her ready for the Breeders' Cup."

The $450,000 winners' purse extended Lailani's career earnings to $747,740 as she earned her third straight Grade/Group 1 win, following the Nassau Stakes (Eng-G1) at Goodwood and the Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) at the Curragh.

"The pace was slow. Lailani stays on nicely between a mile and a mile and a quarter," said William Knight, assistant to winning trainer Ed Dunlop. "Jerry (Bailey) rode a very nice race on her, and I thought she won quite comfortably.

She didn't have the greatest of trips coming over here. She showed her true colors and that she's a tough, tough filly. The next few weeks will be very easy. We don't have to do much to keep her fit."

England's Legend, who had her own three-race winning streak snapped, finished three-quarters of a length in front of Starine (Fr). Following her under the wire were Chaste, Babae (Chi), and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) winner Tweedside, who was eased.

"She ran a very nice race," trainer Christophe Clement said of England's Legend. "I wish that she could have gone the second quarter a little bit slower. Who knows? Maybe the winner is a very good horse-she is undefeated this year. On to the Breeders' Cup."

Added Corey Nakatani, aboard the beaten favorite: "I would have liked her to settle a little more. The turf is soft and that could have been a factor. Still, she ran big like she always does. She's had three strong races before this, and I expect she will bounce back in the Breeders' Cup."