Elate dominates rivals in Delaware Handicap

The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 15 put Elate back in the win column after she began her year by finishing second and then third to Midnight Bisou at Oaklawn Park in the Azeri and Apple Blossom. But questions remained whether Elate was as explosive at age 5 as she had been at 3 and 4.

On Saturday at Delaware Park, in the 82nd running of the $750,000 Delaware Handicap, Elate put those questions to rest with a powerful performance, giving up ground on both turns of the 1 1/4-mile race and easily running by 20-time winner Escape Clause before reaching the top of the stretch. Jockey Jose Ortiz took Elate in hand for the final sixteenth of a mile of the Del Cap while winning by 4 1/2 lengths.

Elate was impressive winning the Grade 2 Del Cap last year while returning from an eight-month layoff, but she outdid herself Saturday while facing tougher rivals in Escape Clause and Blue Prize, who finished second and third, separated by a head.

Two starts ago, Escape Clause finished second to division leader Midnight Bisou by a nose in the Apple Blossom. Blue Prize is a Grade 1 winner with four graded scores to her credit since being imported to the United States in 2017. Blue Prize lost important position in the Del Cap nearing the far turn while racing between horses when Elate commenced her bid.

Elate is the seventh filly or mare to win the Delaware Handicap twice and the first since three-time champion Royal Delta in 2012-13. Bill Mott, the trainer of Elate, also conditioned Royal Delta and is now tied with Todd Pletcher and Henry S. Clark for the most training wins in the race.

Mott, who watched the race from Saratoga, was happy with Elate’s performance, especially the sharp move she made on the far turn.

“That's what I would have wanted to see," Mott said. "I think the distance is a key factor and she's rounded into form. She's just very tough at nine and 10 furlongs.

“When he [Ortiz] went to them, he put them away. It wasn't like he eased to them and gave them a shot.”

Gotham Gala went to the early lead in the Del Cap, while being stalked by Escape Clause. Ortiz, meanwhile, was unhurried aboard Elate, who was floated three wide around the first turn.

Nearing the far turn, Ortiz gave Elate her cue and she rapidly circled horses three and four wide. Escape Clause attempted to go with her on the turn, but it was clear Tyler Baze was working harder on Escape Clause than Ortiz was on Elate.

In the stretch, Elate quickly opened up before being taken in hand.

“I think she is getting back to her old form,” Ortiz said. “She loves a mile and a quarter. 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.”

The Del Cap gave Ortiz wins in four of the five stakes at Delaware on Saturday.

Elate, a homebred campaigned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, paid $2.60 to win and had $227,000 of the $301,000 show pool wagered on her. She was timed in 2:02.51 following even fractions of 24.04 seconds, 48.19, 1:12.34, and 1:36.88.

Because of shipping restrictions placed on Delaware Park by the New York Racing Association because of two sick horses being kept in isolation at Delaware – one of whom tested positive for strangles – Elate will not be able to return to Saratoga until at least July 19.

Mott said Elate will next be pointed to the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign, a 1 1/8-mile race at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

- additional reporting by David Grening