2014: two-year-old season Lady Eli made her racing debut at
Saratoga on August 25 as the favorite in a
maiden race at miles on the turf. She settled in the middle of the field but was blocked when she tried to make her move on the turn. When she finally got clear with an eighth of a mile to go, she accelerated rapidly and won by a nose. The quality of the field for the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf was strong, with a good European contingent and stakes winners from across North America. Lady Eli was nonetheless the favorite and she did not disappoint. She rated in fourth and then "exploded" past the leaders in the stretch to win going away. Lady Eli completed the mile in 1:33.41, more than a full second faster than the colts went in the Juvenile Turf earlier that day. in the
Eclipse Award voting for champion two-year-old filly, traditionally dominated by horses who run on the dirt.
2015: three-year-old season Lady Eli returned to racing on April 12 in the
Appalachian Stakes at
Keeneland. The odds-on favorite, she raced behind the leaders then "shot away" in the stretch to win easily. Her next start was in the $200,000
Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont. Racing again behind the leaders, she was trapped when she tried to make her move and only got free in the final eighth of a mile, then rallied to win by half a length. On July 4, Lady Eli faced 13 rivals in the
Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at miles. She raced in the middle of the pack, then swung wide and then drew off in "eye-catching fashion" to win by lengths. She had won all six of her starts. Brown commented, "I've been lucky to have some great turf fillies and mares, but this one 'breathes different air' for sure. She certainly has the most devastating turn of foot I've ever worked around." Following her victory in the Belmont Oaks, Lady Eli stepped on a nail with her left front foot walking back to Brown's barn from the test barn. The nail was removed, and it didn't seem a big deal at first according to her owner. But Lady Eli started favoring her right front hoof, and about a week later began showing signs of
laminitis in both front feet. Brown told Daily Racing Form that Lady Eli was in a "stable but guarded condition" and that she had "been fitted with special shoes for support on both front feet." By August 13, Brown reported she was making "remarkable progress" and that she was walking sound with light exercise.
2016: Four-year-old season Lady Eli was turned out for two months at Dell Ridge Farm in Kentucky, then went back into training. She had a few timed workouts in early 2016, but then had some inflammation in a tendon and was given some time walking before gradually returning to regular work. On August 27, Lady Eli returned in the
Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga. She raced behind the early pace then made her move around the far turn, moving into the lead before being caught in mid-stretch by Strike Charmer. Lady Eli was beaten by just of a length by the winner, who set a stakes record. On October 8, Lady Eli returned to the winner's circle in the
Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park by lengths at odds of 4–5. Referring to her win following recovery from laminitis, Brown said, "It couldn't happen to a more deserving horse, for her to overcome all this." Lady Eli was the betting favorite in the 2016
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on November 5 but faced a strong field including Grade I winners
Seventh Heaven (Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks),
Catch a Glimpse (Belmont Oaks), Sea Calisi (Beverly D), Avenge (Rodeo Drive), Al's Gal (EP Taylor), Ryan's Charm (Clasico Pamplona) and Kitcat (Club Hipico Falabella). She beat all of these but was caught in the final stride by
Queen's Trust, a well-regarded English filly given a perfectly timed ride by
Frankie Dettori. "We know she's incredible and we know this comeback story was singular, second to none", said Hanley. "It's just hard to see her lose by a nostril. But if she's back, she's healthy, that's all that really matters."
2017: Five-year-old season Lady Eli started her five-year-old campaign in the
Jenny Wiley Stakes at
Keeneland on April 15, 2017. As the 1-2 favorite, she hit the lead in mid-stretch but was caught at the wire by Dickinson. Brown commented, "she is a neck and two noses from being undefeated." She made her next start on May 27 in the
Gamely Stakes at
Santa Anita Park. For the first mile, she ran in second place just behind a fast early pace set by Avenge, then pulled into the lead at the top of the stretch. Goodyearforroses made a late run and closed to within half a length but Lady Eli responded and stayed clear for the win. On July 22, she was entered in the
Diana Stakes at Saratoga, where she went off as the odds-on favorite in a field of six, all of whom were graded stakes winners. Before the start of the race, Lady Eli broke through the gate but the starting assistant held on to her reins and was able to stop her after only a few steps. When the race finally began, Lady Eli settled at the back of the pack then circled the field on the far turn as she started to close ground. Down the stretch, she dueled for the lead with Quidara, while Antonoe tried to make up ground along the rail. Lady Eli and Quidara drifted towards the rail and eventually closed down the hole that Antonoe was trying to go through, causing Antonoe to check her stride near the finish line. Lady Eli prevailed over Quidara by a head at the finish and then withstood an inquiry after the race. Brown, commenting that she carried eight pounds more than any other horse in the race, viewed the race as one of her best and said, "I think she's one of the all-time greats." Lady Eli made her final start in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on November 4. Going off as the 3-2 favorite, she lost all chance when she ran into traffic problems coming out of the chute shortly after the start. She lost her left hind shoe and suffered extensive cuts on both hind legs. She did not show any signs of lameness and continued to run, but lacked her normal closing kick and finished sixth. The day after the race, her connections announced she was expected to recover quickly but that she was being withdrawn from the Keeneland Sales to avoid putting added stress on her. ==Retirement==