Elate gearing up for 2019 debut, possibly at Oaklawn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Multiple Grade 1 winner Elate, idle since her gut-wrenching second-place finish in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign last August at Saratoga, is getting closer to her much-anticipated 2019 debut, trainer Bill Mott said this week.

Elate, the runaway winner of the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 1 Beldame in 2017, started just twice last year. She was an easy winner of the Delaware Handicap going 1 1/4 miles in her seasonal debut before losing by a neck to Abel Tasman after a bumping duel in late stretch of the Personal Ensign.

“She’s had seven breezes, and she’s doing fine,” said Mott.

The seventh of those works came last Monday at Payson Park, an easy half-mile in 50.40 seconds.

“Frankly, I don’t think there’s much for her around here, so we’ll probably have to look out of town for her first start, maybe something at Oaklawn,” said Mott.

Oaklawn has two major stakes for older fillies and mares remaining on its 2019 schedule, the Grade 2 Azeri on March 16 and the Grade 1 Apple Blossom four weeks later.