Elate Much the Best in Delaware Handicap
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Photo: Adrianna Lynch/Bloodhorse
Elate wins the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park
First and foremost, there was the eight-month layoff hanging over Elate's head—a freshening that was necessary but lengthy nonetheless. Then there was the 10-furlong distance she was being asked to travel in her first outing since November, a route of ground that doesn't suffer those who lack class or fitness kindly.
In case there weren't enough challenges for the multiple grade 1 winner in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G2) July 14, add to that the presence of another top-level filly who had already slayed one dragon this year. The thing with exceptional horses, though, is even when legitimate excuses are at the ready, they render them all unnecessary.
There was a point in the fall when Elate had many believing her to be the best dirt filly in the country, a theory that came undone when she failed to fire in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 3. In her first outing since that fourth-place effort, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro served noticed that she remains a massive problem for her foes with when she galloped to a 3 1/4-length victory Saturday at Delaware Park.
Elate's path to her 4-year-old debut got hindered in the winter when she was troubled by a splint bone issue that prompted trainer Bill Mott to back off on her conditioning. That the Hall of Fame conditioner felt confident enough to start the dark bay girl back against the likes of grade 1 winner Unbridled Mo—over a classic distance, no less—was a tip of the hand that Elate was showing him the same kind of form that recorded victories in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G1) last year.
"We felt like she was doing well, so we just decided to go ahead and get her started," Mott said. "We knew we had a quality filly, and we knew she was capable of winning a race like this if we had her right."
Though she faltered as the betting favorite in the Distaff, Elate ran every bit like the 1-2 favorite she was in the Delaware Handicap. After racing in last early, as 127-1 longshot Proper Discretion went the opening quarter-mile in :24.21, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's homebred started to pick off rivals with an outside move down the backstretch and wrested control from the overmatched pacesetter heading into the far turn.
Sneaky Betty tried to make a run at the imposing filly and got within a half-length of Elate as the latter reached the mile mark in 1:38.83, but the 85-1 longshot was quickly dismissed to settle for place honors as Elate opened up handily in the stretch under Jose Ortiz.
"The horse outside of me (Nikki My Darling) stumbled out of there and ... when I saw her rushing up, I took back," Ortiz said. "On the backside, I thought we were going slow, so I decided to make a move, and she did it. She's a big filly, so I wanted to get her in her stride on the backside before we hit the turn.
"Off an eight, almost nine-month layoff, Bill and everyone did great to get her ready."
The Delaware surface already has a history of kick-starting Elate's best form.
An impressive maiden winner first time out in November 2016, Elate went on to lose the first four starts of her 3-year-old campaign, including a worrisome outing in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), where she was pulled up and vanned off when Ortiz thought she took a bad step.
It was in the Light Hearted Stakes at Delaware in June last year where she snapped that losing skid and won by 5 1/2 lengths. She teased of greater things to come when she was beaten just a head by eventual divisional champion Abel Tasman in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) a month later.
Now undefeated in two starts at Delaware, Elate covered the distance Saturday in 2:04.83 over a fast track. Sneaky Betty edged Teresa Z by a neck to hold for second, with Fuhriously Kissed fourth.
"I thought it was a good performance," said Mott. "She went early, she held on well, and she did what she had to do. It looked like when she took over, she did it with authority and she finished up. Was she getting a little tired at the end? Well, she could have been, but she had a right to."
Unbridled Mo, who defeated champion Unique Bella in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in April, came in fifth, with graded stakes winner Mopotism sixth. Nikki My Darling and Proper Discretion rounded out the order of finish in the eight-horse field.
Out of the Distorted Humor mare Cheery, Elate improved her record to five wins from 11 starts, with $1,270,325 in earnings. She is expected to target the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course next.