Multiple G1 winner Elate returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday with a sharp, one-and-a-half-length victory in the G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs 15 June.
The victory in the Fleur de Lis earned the five-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro an automatic berth into the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, since it is part of the ‘Win and You’re In’ Series sponsored by the Breeders’ Cup.
Sent off as the heavy 4-5 favorite, Elate saved ground along the inside rail in third as longshot Skeptic led the field of six through some very leisurely early fractions. Moved out wide and into the clear at the top of the lane, Elate reeled in fellow G1 winners She’s a Julie and Blue Prize in deep stretch to earn her first Stakes win of the year.
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.
Elate is one of 66 career Group or Graded winners for Medaglia d'Oro whose back catalog includes G1-winning sons and daughters like Rachel Alexandria, Songbird, Talismanic and fellow Jonabell stallion Astern, to name just a few.
