Elate gets 'swan song' against the boys in Breeders' Cup Classic
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Elate will make the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic her final start, assistant trainer Riley Mott told Christina Blacker of TVG after the $6 million event was listed as the mare's championship race of choice during Wednesday's pre-entries announcement.
The five-time graded stakes winner by Medaglia d’Oro will contest the Classic’s 1 1/4 miles rather than the shorter, 1 1/8-mile Distaff. Following this start, she'll be retired.
“Obviously she has a good record at a mile and a quarter and does very well at a mile and an eighth against fillies,” said Riley Mott, the trainer Bill's son.
Bill Mott has saddled Elate 18 times for seven career wins. She has earned $2,328,775, with the a few of the highlights 10-furlong wins in the 2017 Alabama Stakes (G1), then back-to-back editions of the Delaware Handicap (G2) in 2018 and 2019.
The decision of whether to rematch Elate with top division rival Midnight Bisou or face the males in the Classic was among the most interesting story lines leading up to the pre-entry deadline.
“This is her swan song," Riley Mott said. "She will be retired after this race. We figured she deserves a shot at the distance.”
Elate will face stablemate Yoshida and nine other contenders in the $6 million Classic.
Zenyatta, who won the 2009 Classic at Santa Anita, remains the only filly or mare to do so in the race's history.
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