Elite Power became a repeat winner of the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint by closing to win by 1 1/2 lengths over archrival Gunite on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. A year earlier, he had won the Sprint at Keeneland, a performance that resulted in him earning an Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter. Another title is likely on the way this year.
The Bill Mott-trained Elite Power became the third repeat Breeders' Cup winner on the Saturday program, following the success of his stablemate Cody's Wish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Goodnight Olive in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. In the 40 years of the Breeders' Cup, just two others have repeated in the Sprint as Elite Power did -- Roy H in 2017-18 and Midnight Lute in 2007-08.
A heady ride by Irad Ortiz Jr., who won three Breeders' Cup races on Saturday, put his mount in position to have success. Seeing few horses win from far back on the main track except for Cody's Wish, Ortiz said he consulted Mott and elected to give Elite Power a spirited warm-up in a move designed to have Elite Power closer than usual to the leaders. He was. Though seventh of eight after an opening quarter mile in :21.99 as Speed Boat Beach went to the lead, Elite Power was just 3 1/4 lengths off the pace. He then advanced into third in the turn, 1 1/2 lengths behind Speed Boat Beach's half-mile in :44.35.
Speed Boat Beach's lead dwindled with a pace pressing Gunite dialing up the heat, but none could contain Elite Power, who rallied wide to power ahead in the final furlong. Favored Elite Power paid $5.40 to win.
"I was in the passenger seat until the quarter pole, then I just asked him and he responded," Ortiz said.
Gunite held on for second, a half-length ahead of Nakatomi in third. Speed Boat Beach faded to fourth as the second betting favorite.
Elite Power resumed his winning ways in the Sprint after a second-place finish to Gunite in the Aug. 26 Grade 1 Forego Stakes, a loss that ended an eight-race win streak.
Elite Power improved his career earnings to $3,775,711. He is 9-1-1 in 13 starts.
The Sprint, the final Breeders' Cup race on the Saturday card, gave Mott his third win during the two-day Breeders' Cup. Earlier, he won the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with Just F Y I, and the Dirt Mile with Godolphin's Cody's Wish.