Elite Power successfully defends his Breeders’ Cup Sprint crown
November 6, 2023
Back to Our News PageKentucky-bred Elite Power took command in mid-stretch and drew clear from Gunite to win the 40th running of the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) for the second year in a row.
Owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bill Mott, Elite Power covered the six furlongs in the fast time of 1:08.34 in defeating Gunite by 1 ½ lengths. Speed Boat Beach led the field through an opening quarter in :21.99 and a half mile in :44.35 while Elite Power settled in hand off the pace in seventh early. Elite Power ranged into contention racing four wide through the far turn and reeled in the backpedaling pacesetter in the lane. He edged clear late to score as much the best.
“I had a beautiful trip,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. “I was in the clear early and the horse took me beautifully right to the quarter pole. I was a good passenger sitting in the passenger’s seat until the quarter pole. Then I asked him, and he just responded well.”
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased Elite Power’s bankroll to $3,775,711. The win improved his record to 13-9-1-1 as he retires to stud. Elite Power is a Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin, and he is out of the Vindication mare Broadway’s Alibi. He was bred in the Bluegrass by Alpha Delta Stables and was a $900,000 graduate of the 2019 Keeneland September Sale where he was consigned by Lane’s End.
“It’s a difficult job to keep a horse going year after year,” Mott said. “To come back and win two Breeders’ Cups in a row says a lot about the durability of the horse and the luck that I have. We were lucky enough to have him and he’s had a great career. He’s off to his new career which will be in the stud barn, and we wish him all the best.”