(The great Elate winning the G2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Editor’s Note:

Truth be known, Elate was bred and born to be great.

As the old saying goes in this Thoroughbred breeding and racing business, you breed the best to the best and hope for the best.

Elate fit that billing.

And, she fulfilled that billing.

The big bay mare was born on April 10, 2014 at the famous and majestic Claiborne Farm near Paris, KY. Her future was supposed to be brilliant. At least, that’s what the pedigree told, and that’s what her owners — Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschnieder — certainly diagramed.

You see, Elate was from royal blood.

Her father is the great Medaglia d’Oro — a wonderful racehorse who amassed a record of 8-7-0 in 17 starts and won 3 Grade 1 Stakes in a brilliant career. The highlight of the career may have been his victory in the 2002 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Arguably. But his two second-place finishes in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2002 & 2003) were both great efforts, as well.

Medaglia d’Oro has gone on to become one of the world’s most powerful and preeminent stallions, as well. His off-spring include the amazing Rachel Alexandra, and the nearly flawless Songbird. There were outstanding colts, too, like Talismanic, Mshawish, Vancouver, Higher Power and Bolt d’Oro.

Elate’s mother was not too bad, either. Her name is Cheery, a daughter of the grand stallion Distorted Humor. In her abbreviated race career, Cheery managed 5 wins and 2 seconds in just 9 career starts. She finished her racing career with a win in the American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 20, 2013.

But Elate’s grandmother was better. Her name is Yell, a daughter of A.P. Indy. She won the G2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park; and the G3 Raven Run at Keeneland. She ran 2nd in the G2 Molly Pitcher Handicap at Monmouth Park; the Louisville Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs; and the G1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. She was 3rd in the G1 Kentucky Oaks, too.

Elates’s great grandmother was special, too. Her name is Wild Applause. In 10 starts, she had 5 wins, a second and a third. She won the G2 Diana Handicap at Saratoga; the G3 Comely Stakes at Belmont Park.

But Elate’s great, great grandmother? Now, she was truly special. In 24 starts, she had 9 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds. And, she became a blue hen mare for the great breeder Paul Mellon and his Rokeby Stables in Virginia.

In short? The blood was always there for Elate.

But she had to prove her blood work could produce good works on the racetrack, too.

And, as the story goes, she did exactly that.

She proved. And, she proved very worthy.

In 19 career starts, Elate had a record of 7-7-2 and won over $2.628 million.

Including in those 19 starts, Elate won the G2 Delaware Handicap (twice), the G2 Fleur de Lis Handicap, and both the G1 Beldame Stakes and the G1 Alabama Stakes, too. In her final start, before heading off to the breeding shed, she took on the biggest of the boys in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Although she did not win, she proved her mettle — running 4th to Vino Rosso.

In the end? Elate was bred and born to be great. And, she ran exactly that way, too.

Take a look at Holly’s looks. They are pretty great, too.

(Elate going to post in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in her second career start — way back on Feb. 11, 2017. She ran 2nd that day)

(The beautiful Elate was always picture perfect in the mornings)

(In her career, Elate won 5 Graded Stakes events — including both the G1 Alabama Stakes and the G1 Beldame Stakes. Here she captures the G2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 15, 2019)

 

(Elate struck a power pose in her morning work at Churchill Downs)