Elite Power is back for a repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Notes
When it comes to the $2 million Qatar Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Elite Power has been there, done that.
Now, his connections hope the 5-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin can do it again.
Juddmonte’s ELITE POWER rolls into Santa Anita Park as the horse to beat in the 6-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday. Last November, he won the Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths to complete a season in which he won five of six starts and be awarded the Eclipse Award for champion sprinter.
This year’s Sprint will be Elite Power’s first start since he had an eight-race winning streak snapped when he was second in the Aug. 26 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Before the loss, Elite Power had gobbled up the wins, starting when he broke his maiden in the fourth try at Churchill Downs in June of his 3-year-old season. It stopped when Gunite – a horse Elite Power had defeated by a head in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) earlier in the Saratoga meet – won the Forego by 1 3/4 lengths.
The Forego was run at 7 furlongs; the Vanderbilt at 6 furlongs. Elite Power had won four of six starts at the Sprint distance.
Bill Mott, Elite Power’s Hall of Fame trainer accepts the notion that Elite Power likely will be the favorite as he tries to defend his title. Mott though, has not picked out a spot on his mantel for the trophy just yet.
“Horses show up in the Breeders’ Cup that you didn’t know existed,” Mott said. “You look up and you’ll say, ‘Holy (cow), where did they come from?’ There are races you are in where it looks like you are the best horse on paper, and you think you ought to win. These races are so tough that you are no cinch to win no matter who you are.”
Elite Power will make his bid to become the third horse to win the Sprint in back-to-back years, joining Roy H (2017-18) and Midnight Lute (2007-08). The race has not been kind to its post time favorites.
In the last 30 years, just seven favorites have won it. Last year, Elite Power was sent off as the 5-1 second choice at Keeneland.
Mott, though, is happy with how Elite Power has trained since the Forego. He will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Just getting a horse to the Breeders’ Cup can be viewed as a win after connections navigate a path to get there.
“Really, there is probably not as much pressure in the Breeders’ Cup as there is in a lot of other races,” Mott said. “All these races are so difficult; you are just lucky to show up. We have been beaten in Breeders’ Cup races before and, sometimes, because you know the races are so competitive going in, you are not as disappointed if you get beat. It is absolutely a win to get there. You have to have a great season to get there.”
