Elate makes it back-to-back in Delaware Handicap

Elate made her second straight Delaware Handicap victory look easy Saturday afternoon.

The 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro mare took the lead in the far turn and strolled in to win the Grade 2, $750,000 feature for 3-and-up fillies and mares.

Elate covered the 1 ¼ miles over Delaware Park’s main track in 2:02.2 under jockey Jose Ortiz. Her victory paid $2.60, with Escape Clause coming up second, just ahead of Blue Prize.

The Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider homebred Elate is trained by Bill Mott. She’s now 16: 7-5-2 for her career with five graded scores, including two Delaware Handicaps.

Elate won the 2017 Alabama (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G1) at 3, and entered Saturday’s Delaware Handicap off a last out victory June 15 in Churchill Downs’ Fleur de Lis (G2).

Gotham Gala set steady fractions Saturday of :24, :48 and 1:12.1. Elate on the outside and graded winner Escape Clause on the rail passed the pace setter in the far turn, setting up a potential stretch duel.

But Elate brushed that notion aside, cruising to a sizable lead and then lightly galloping across the wire.