Elate Overpowers Delaware Handicap Rivals
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Elate soars clear to win the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Elate put her innate brilliance back on display July 13 at Delaware Park when she ran her rivals into the ground to defend her title in the $750,125 Delaware Handicap (G2).
The 122-pound highweight carried five pounds more than she did in 2018 yet galloped to a 4 1/2-length score over eight rivals as the 1-5 favorite under regular rider Jose Ortiz.
Last year, carrying 117 pounds as the 3-5 favorite in an eight-horse field, Bill Mott-trained Elate cruised home for a 3 1/4-length score in the 1 1/4-mile test.
The dark bay mare was away without issue from post 7 Saturday and loped along in fifth while Gotham Gala took the field through opening fractions of :24.04 and :48.19 with Manitoba invader Escape Clause in close pursuit.
Elate had both in her sights as three-quarters went in 1:12.34, and the 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro cruised up from fourth with devastating power to take the lead as the field turned for home. She widened her advantage through a 1:36.88 mile and was well under wraps as she cruised beneath the line in a final time of 2:02.51 on a fast main track.
"I think she is getting back to her old form," Ortiz said. "Hopefully, she will come out of here well and continue to get better."
Escape Clause held for second and Blue Prize was third. Elate returned $2.60 on a $2 win ticket.
Elate won the Alabama Stakes (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G1) in 2017 before a fourth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and made her 2018 debut in the Delaware Handicap. After a runner-up effort in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), she missed the Breeders' Cup with a splint issue and was given plenty of time to heal before a 2019 return to the races.
This year, Elate finished second in the March 16 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and was third in the April 14 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) there before she came nicely back to form with a victory in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs. That win punched her ticket back to the Breeders' Cup as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
"She loves a mile and a quarter," Ortiz said. "I am a little disappointed that there are not more races at the distance. She is the best horse in the filly and mare division going a mile and a quarter, but I also think she can cut back to a mile and an eighth and make it work."
Elate was bred in Kentucky by her owners out of the Distorted Humor mare Cheery and now has a 7-5-2 record from 16 starts, with earnings of $2,098,775. She is the seventh horse to win the Delaware Handicap twice and gave Mott his fourth victory, along with two-time winner Royal Delta (2012-13), equaling the record held by Henry Clark and Todd Pletcher.