Elate to face eight rivals in Delaware Handicap repeat bid

Elate will be favored over eight rivals Saturday when she attempts to win the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap for the second year in a row. The card also includes four $100,000 stakes that comprise Round 3 of the MATCH Series.

Trained by Bill Mott, Elate is the 122-pound highweight in the Del Cap and will concede two to 10 pounds to the competition. If she is successful, she will become the seventh two-time winner of the race since it was established in 1937 and the first since Royal Delta won it in 2012 and 2013. Three-time champion Royal Delta also was trained by Mott.

A win by Elate would give Mott a record-tying fourth Del Cap victory. Todd Pletcher won the Del Cap in 2010, 2007, 2006, and 2001, and Henry S. Clark won it in 1970, 1969, 1959, and 1958.

“We just try to stay competitive every time we come to Delaware, and it is nice to be keeping such good company,” Mott said.

Elate won the 1 1/4-mile Del Cap last year off a seven-month layoff. When she breaks from post 7 under Jose Ortiz on Saturday, she will be making her fourth start of 2019.

Now 5, she began her campaign with second- and third-place finishes to Midnight Bisou going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 2 Azeri and Grade 1 Apple Blossom. She broke through with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs when stretched out to 1 1/8 miles on June 15. She should appreciate the extra furlong Saturday.

Escape Clause, now based at Delaware Park with trainer Don Schnell, finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Elate in the Apple Blossom when she missed by a nose to Midnight Bisou. She will be ridden by Tyler Baze, carry 119 pounds, and start from post 3. Escape Clause is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

Blue Prize, trained by Ignacio Correas, finished second to Elate by 1 1/2 lengths in the Fleur de Lis at equal weights. She will get a two-pound break in the weights Saturday and will start from post 6 under Joe Bravo.

The field, in post-position order: Another Broad, 118; Gotham Gala, 118; Escape Clause; Queen Nekia, 112; Promise of Spring, 115; Blue Prize; Elate; Vente to Go, 113; and Goodonehoney, 117.