Saturday's Belmont card saw a number of impressive performances, and the victory in the Beldame by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm's Elate (Medaglia d'Oro) was no exception. Bottled up for much of the race, jockey Jose Ortiz found a clear path in the stretch and the 'TDN Rising Star' responded readily, kicking clear to a resounding 5 1/2-length tally. The Beldame was the 3-year-old's fourth career win and second Grade I success, following a victory in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 19.
While Mott said no plans were set in stone, he noted that in all likelihood, Elate would be pointed toward the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 3.
“It was a good day,” Mott said. “We're very happy with her. She looks good. She's on her way to Saratoga. We'll train her, but I haven't talked to anybody. I'm assuming they would probably like to go to the Breeders' Cup. That's my guess. That would be our plan I would think. She'll go up there and start training and we'll go from there. We've got a whole month.”
Mott said the other star sophomore of his barn, GII Jim Dandy S. winner Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), will work Monday at Saratoga in preparation for a start against older rivals in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in Elmont next Saturday. The Hall of Fame trainer will also saddle 'TDN Rising Star' Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the GIII Hill Prince S. on that same card.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
