Elate Rolls To Easy Alabama Victory

By Jordan Sigmon

The expectations had always been high for Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider’s Elate, and the 3-year-old filly finally lived up to them in winning the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga.

Elate sat a few lengths off of a swift pace set by eventual runner-up It Tiz Well throughout much of the race before taking the lead around the far turn and drawing off to win by 5 ½ lengths. Salty rallied from a similar early position to hold third from the fast-finishing Actress.

Trainer Bill Mott, who registered his third Alabama win on Saturday, was pleased with how his filly finished up in the 1 ¼-mile event, “It looks like the mile and a quarter is her type of trip. She finished well and she’s got a nice burst of speed, and she stays on well.”

Mott also commented on Elate’s progression from her maiden win in November to… (more)