Elate enters Honeybee Stakes fitter

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The promising 3-year-old filly Elate is scheduled to run Saturday at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee, according to trainer Bill Mott. She will be invading from Florida, and her flight was to arrive Tuesday.

Elate enters the Honeybee off a runner-up finish to Tapa Tapa Tapa in the Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. She was beaten three lengths in her first start since winning her career debut at Aqueduct by 12 1/2 lengths on Nov. 26.

“I think she needed it,” Mott said. “I don’t think she was really cranked up, and she still ran a creditable race over that Tampa track, which isn’t easy to do. It wasn’t a disaster.”

Elate has worked three times since the Suncoast, including a half-mile in 50.40 seconds Monday at Payson Park. Jose Lezcano will come in from Florida for the ride, replacing Jose Ortiz, who will be at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

“She looks better, she should be fitter, and she woke up a little bit since the race,” Mott said. “I think a bit more racing is going to help her. I think she’s quite talented, but she’s very laid-back. It’s not like her motor’s running 24 hours a day.”

Elate, by Medaglia d’Oro, is the first foal from the mare Cheery, who won the American Beauty at Oaklawn in 2013. Elate races for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

The Honeybee will share a card with the $125,000 Hot Springs Stakes.

– additional reporting by David Grening