Elite Power continues to roll with easy Vosburgh victory
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Elite Power ran his winning streak to four, won his stakes debut, and gave his connections something to think about regarding the Breeders’ Cup by winning Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
A closer, Elite Power had to adapt to a race without any speed in it and did so adroitly. Sitting second early on under Jose Lezcano, Elite Power made the front before a half-mile was run in a pedestrian 47.68 seconds, waited for Lezcano to ask him for run turning for home, and opened up as easy as the toteboard suggested he would. Elite Power returned $3 as the 1-2 favorite.
Eastern Bay, making his 51st career start, rallied for second, five lengths in front of Drafted. Southern District and Jalen Journey completed the order of finish.
The Vosburgh was a Win and You’re In race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Trainer Bill Mott said he would discuss that option with Garrett O’Rourke, the racing manager for Juddmonte.
“It is nice when you did just win a Win and You’re In and all your fees are paid to a big race like that,” Mott said.
Mott knows the Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be a totally different race than the Vosburgh in terms of competition and complexion. But at least he learned that Elite Power can be effective laying just off the pace as he did on Saturday. In his previous three victories, he came from sixth-place to win.
“He’s going to have to be able to adapt to a different pace scenario than what he had today,” Mott said. “And he had to adapt today [from] what he was used to previously.”
Lezcano said the fact Elite Power broke so sharp made the plan to lay close easy to execute.
“He was very comfortable the whole way around, I could go to the lead when I want,” said Lezcano, who added when Eastern Bay tried to make a wide bid in the lane, “I showed him the whip and he went on with it.”
Elite Power, a 4-year-old son of Curlin who brought $900,000 at auction as a weanling, covered seven furlongs in 1:23.98. Elite Power was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
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