Elate, Got Stormy Breeze at Churchill Downs Toward BC

Grade 1 winners Elate and Got Stormy were part of a group of horses that breezed at Churchill Downs Oct. 19 toward potential starts in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Nov. 1-2.

Long-striding Elate worked three furlongs in :34 3/5 in preparation for a start in either the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) or the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), while turf-running Got Stormy covered five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 toward the Nov. 2 TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). Churchill Downs clockers timed Elate galloping out four furlongs in :47 2/5 in a breeze that was accomplished effortlessly by the 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro .

Winner of the Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2) and Delaware Handicap (G2) this year, Elate has since run second in both the Aug. 24 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by La Infiniti (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Oct. 6 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The work was her first since the Spinster.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and owned by her breeders, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Elate is perfect in three starts at 1 1/4 miles, the distance of the $6 million Classic.

The $2 million Distaff is 1 1/8 miles.

Unlike Elate, who has raced exclusively against fillies, Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stable's Got Stormy is already a proven winner against males after the Aug. 10 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga. In her previous start, the Mark Casse trainee finished second in the Sept. 14 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T), beaten a half-length by longshot El Tormenta in a one-turn race.

The Mile at Santa Anita is around two turns, as was the Fourstardave.

"She's in great health," said David Carroll, Casse's assistant who oversaw her workout Saturday.  "The Mile will hit her right. Obviously a different configuration than Woodbine. That will help her a lot."

Other probable Breeders' Cup starters who worked at Churchill on Saturday included Mr. Money, who went five furlongs in a bullet :59 1/5 toward the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1); Owendale, who traveled six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 in preparation for the Classic; and Arklow, who breezed a half mile in :47 4/5 in advance of the Longines Turf (G1T).

Ack Ack Stakes (G3) winner Mr Freeze, whose trainer Dale Romans is weighing whether to pre-enter him in the Dirt Mile by the Oct. 21 deadline for all Breeders' Cup horses, also breezed, covering five furlongs in 1:00 2/5. 

At Keeneland, Calumet Farm homebred Lexitonian breezed a half-mile in: 49 3/5 under jockey Tyler Gaffalione as he readies for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Trainer Jack Sisterson said Gaffalione will have the mount in the Sprint, replacing jockey Adam Beschizza, who broke his collarbone in a spill at Keeneland Oct. 9. Beschizza rode the colt to a third-place in finish in his most recent start, the Oct. 4 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2).