Elate Returns in Del Cap

[Wandering Eyes]

After back-to-back blowout Grade I wins in the second half of her sophomore campaign, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) appeared to have concocted a late championship bid, but a fourth-place effort as the chalk in the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff soured that opportunity. Saturday, over eight months after that disappointment, the homebred will make her 4-year-old debut in the GII Delaware H. at Delaware Park.

Breaking her maiden with devastating ease in November of 2016, Elate took some time to get back to that effort, but got in gear at this oval with an easy score in the Light Hearted S. last June. The dark bay followed that up with a narrow miss when second by a head in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks before truly arriving with a 5 1/2-length romp in the GI Alabama S. Aug. 19. Next came an 8 1/4-length drubbing of the GI Beldame Invitational field Sept. 30, which led to 2-1 favoritism at Del Mar, but the Bill Mott trainee never fired in an even effort. Attempting the rare feat of winning at ten furlongs off a long layoff, Elate shows a handful of stamina-building breezes on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga, including a seven-furlong move in 1:26 2/5 (1/1) June 30.

The lone other Grade I winner in the Del ‘Cap lineup is Red Oak Stable’s homebred millionaire Unbridled Mo (Uncle Mo). A winner in seven of 11 career outings, the bay scored a signature victory with an upset of champion Unique Bella (Tapit) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 13 at Oaklawn. The Todd Pletcher pupil couldn’t replicate that effort when finishing a distant third last out in the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 9 at Belmont.

Reddam Racing’s Mopotism (Uncle Mo) rates an off-the-pace chance should Elate stumble. Capturing the GII La Canada S. Jan. 13 at Santa Anita, the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton March buy was then second to Unique Bella in the GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 10 and most recently checked in third in the GII Fleur de Lis H. June 16 at Churchill. The runner-up from that event also re-opposes in Coffeepot Stables’ Farrell (Malibu Moon), but the speedster figures to face a good deal of early pressure in this initial try beyond nine furlongs.

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