Two-time G1-winner Elate made a successful return to the races when she cruised to a four-length victory in the G2 Delaware Handicap 14 July.
The four-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro improved her record to five wins in 11 starts and provided her Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott with his third victory in the historic race.
Sent off as the heavy favorite in the field of eight fillies and mares, Elate broke a step slowly and was settled at the rear of the field by jockey Jose Ortiz through the early stages of the race. Elate began to make up ground on the leader on the backstretch, and by the time the field entered the far turn she had swept up to challenge Proper Discretion for the lead.
At the top of the stretch Elate took command and began to pull away, eventually winning by four lengths while under a hand-ride.
Elate was bred in Kentucky by her owners, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider. She is out of the Stakes-winning Distorted Humor mare Cheery, a daughter of G2 winner and G1-placed Yell, and a half to G1 winner Eastern Echo and multiple Graded Stakes winner Roar.
In addition to Elate, Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of 2018 Stakes winners Bolt d’Oro (G2 San Felipe) and Enticed (G3 Gotham Stakes). The stallion is also the sire of Champion filly Wonder Gadot, recent winner of the prestigious $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate.
