Jose Ortiz, Elate Face Familiar Spinster Foes

Before jockey Jose Ortiz climbs aboard Elate for the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) Oct. 6 at Keeneland, a glance at the past performances to analyze the five-horse field may not even prove necessary. Having ridden Elate in 15 of her 17 starts, he is well acquainted with her and two of the race's other leading contenders, Dunbar Road and Blue Prize, fillies he has ridden multiple times.

In a Spinster short on numbers but rich in quality, that understanding just might tip the balance in Elate's favor. The 5-year-old has been one of the top dirt females in the country for much of the past three years after bursting on the scene in a maiden race she won by 12 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct Racetrack in November 2016. Five graded victories and more than $2 million in earnings later, Elate is in the midst of a 2019 campaign that has resulted in two victories, two runner-up finishes, and a third in five starts—all grade 1 or grade 2 races.

Those races have come against some of the best fillies and mares around, specifically Midnight Bisou, who beat her in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and Azeri Stakes (G2) this spring at Oaklawn Park and in a highlight-reel renewal of the Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. That day, the two older mares dueled the length of the stretch, with Midnight Bisou finishing a nose on top.

Video: Personal Ensign S. Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1)

Following that near miss, Elate's Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, chose the Spinster for her next race, preferring it to options such as the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, a race Midnight Bisou won Sept. 28.

"We'd like to win another grade 1 with her, even though she's a grade 1 winner," Mott said. "If we're going to run against Midnight Bisou again, I'd like it to be a grade 1 rather than a grade 2."

The Spinster drew three other grade 1 winners: Dunbar Road, Blue Prize, and She's a Julie. Only Vexatious is absent an achievement above the grade 3 level.

The Spinster should provide a measuring stick for Mott and owners Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider to assess whether to pursue the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) against males at 1 1/4 miles or stick with females in the $2 million Longines Distaff (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. Both races are Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

"We've always liked the idea of the Classic because of the distance," Mott said. Elate is unbeaten in three starts at 1 1/4 miles.

The Spinster, at 1 1/8 miles, is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Distaff. Elate has already qualified by virtue of her victory in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Sunday's race could carry championship implications within the 3-year-old filly ranks for Peter Brant's Dunbar Road. The lone sophomore in the lineup won the Alabama Stakes (G1) in her previous start Aug. 17 at Saratoga. Another grade 1 triumph would put her on par with stablemate Guarana, who has already notched two such victories, in a close division that may not be decided until after the Breeders' Cup.

Dunbar Road and Guarana could be headed in different directions, with trainer Chad Brown considering cutting Guarana back to one turn for the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 2.

"Dunbar Road is no pushover," Brown said of her chances in the Spinster. "She's coming up to the race very well. I think we'll find out a lot about her Sunday. Her last work was as good as any I've seen from her this year."

Javier Castellano will ride her for the first time.

Blue Prize and She's a Julie also possess the credentials to win. The former won this race last year and comes off a victory in the restricted Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga. She's a Julie, winner of the May 3 La Troienne Stakes Presented by Inside Access from Chase (G1) at Churchill Downs, holds a tactical advantage as the principal speed in a race short of pace.

The Juddmonte Spinster is the ninth race, with a 5:45 p.m. ET post time. NBC will broadcast the race as part of a telecast from 4:30-6 p.m. 

Additional reporting by Bob Ehalt. 

Entries: Juddmonte Spinster S. (G1)

Keeneland, Sunday, October 06, 2019, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:45 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dunbar Road (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	Chad C. Brown	2/1
2	2Blue Prize (ARG)	Joe Bravo	124	Ignacio Correas, IV	4/1
3	3Vexatious (KY)	Adam Beschizza	124	Jack Sisterson	12/1
4	4She's a Julie (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Steven M. Asmussen	8/1
5	5Elate (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	William I. Mott	4/5