For Elate, age just a number in the Beldame Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – The 3-yearold Elate is taking on older fillies and mares for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park, but the race might be easier than the two in which she just competed during the summer at Saratoga.

Elate dominated It Tiz Well in the Grade 1 Alabama and was beaten a head by Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Those two fillies ran one-two in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion last week at Parx Racing. There is no one of the caliber of those two among the six challengers Elate faces in the Beldame.

“If you’re just looking at a piece of paper, I’d say we look very competitive in the race,” Elate’s trainer, Bill Mott, understatedly said.

It took awhile, but Elate has developed into the type of filly many thought she would after she won her debut by 12 lengths at Aqueduct last November. Surprisingly, she didn’t win again until June, when she captured a minor stakes race at Delaware Park. She has taken off since then.

Elate also shows a sharp work tab since the Alabama.

“Everything’s been good,” Mott said. “She’s doing it the right way. We’re really happy with her.”

Elate, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm, will break from the rail under Jose Ortiz. She has the speed to be close to the pace, which figures to be set by Bishop’s Pond and Money’soncharlotte.

Mott won the Beldame in 2012 with Royal Delta, who then went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic – since renamed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff – one of five wins in that race for Mott. Mott has also run second several times in the Beldame, including in 2013 with Royal Delta, who was beaten as the 1-5 favorite by Princess of Sylmar.

Princess of Sylmar was trained by Todd Pletcher, who has won the Beldame five times. Saturday, he will send out Eskenformoney, who comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign behind Forever Unbridled and Songbird. Eskenformoney has not won since she took the Grade 3 Rampart, a one-turn mile race, at Gulfstream Park last December.

Money’soncharlotte brings a four-race win streak into the Beldame for trainer Kelly Breen. Money’soncharlotte won the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher two starts back at Monmouth and, most recently, the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline at Thistledown.

Verve’s Tale won the Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga last out, but is 0 for 5 at Belmont. Bishop’s Pond is cross-entered in a stakes at Delaware Park. Bombshell and Presumptuous complete the field.