Juddmonte's Elite Power took over at midstretch and eased away from Gunite by a half-length to win the 40th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint and become the third back-to-back winner of the race Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., to close out the world championships.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Elite Power covered the six furlongs in 1:08.34 over a fast track. It is the third victory of the weekend for Mott and Ortiz and back-to-back wins for the duo in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Ortiz also won the 2020 Sprint with Whitmore at Keeneland.
The other horses to repeat in the Sprint are Roy H in 2017-'18 and Midnight Lute in 2007-'08.
Speed Boat Beach led the field through an opening quarter in :21.99 but by the time he completed a half-mile in :44.35, he had company on the front end in Gunite as Elite Power was beginning a three-wide move.
At the head of the stretch, Gunite took over but was quickly joined by Elite Power as Speed Boat Beach backed out of the fray. Elite Power gradually eased away from Gunite to secure the victory.
“I had a beautiful trip,” said Ortiz. “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.”
Gunite held second by a half-length over Nakatomi, who finished a length in front of Speed Boat Beach. The Chosen Vron, Hoist the Gold, Dr. Schivel, and Three Technique completed the order of finish for the field of eight 3-year-olds and up.
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased Elite Power's earnings to $3,775,711 with a record of 13-9-1-1.
“It's a difficult job to keep a horse going year after year,” said Mott. “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. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) warmed him up good and he said he wanted to be close to the pace without using him too hard. He recognized all day that the only horse to come from behind was Cody's Wish and he is observant enough to see that. The rivalry with Gunite was there and he certainly showed up. I thought he was the one we had to beat.”
Elite Power is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin out of the Vindication mare Broadway's Alibi. He will retire to stand at stud at his owner's farm in Lexington, Ky.
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