Mott Hopes to Have Three Chances to Take Home the Roses

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL–It is typical to see trainers like Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen saddle two or three horses in the Run for the Roses, but it is not something usually seen from Bill Mott. The Hall of Famer has only saddled eight starters in the GI Kentucky Derby since opening his stable in 1978, but this year he could have three starters on the First Saturday in May with Hidden Scroll (Hard Spun), Tacitus　(Tapit) and Country House (Lookin at Lucky).

Hidden Scroll looks to secure his spot in the Derby starting gate Saturday when he goes postward in the GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The Juddmonte homebred dazzled the crowd on Pegasus World Cup day at Gulfstream with a 14-length debut graduation over a sloppy mile Jan. 26. Straight to the front as the favorite in the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 2, the 'TDN Rising Star' went a bit too fast early and was run down in the stretch, finishing fourth.

“I think we probably have to alter his running style a little bit, but he is working well and doing very well,” Mott said. “We are increasing the distance of the race by a sixteenth of a mile, so we have to see if he will complete that new distance in good order. He went a little fast early in his race last time and it probably compromised him at the end. Hopefully, he will have a more even trip this go around and bring himself up.”

Hidden Scroll drew the rail for Saturday's event, but his conditioner said that will not effect their game plan.

“I don't think the post position is going to influence us too much,” Mott said. “He has natural speed, but there is speed in the race. I don't think it will force our hand one way or another.”

There is also a chance of rain in Hallandale Saturday, which is just fine by Mott.

“If that were to happen, it certainly wouldn't bother me with the way he broke his maiden on an off track,” the conditioner said.

Mott hopes to have a second Derby starter for Juddmonte in GII Tampa Bay Derby hero Tacitus. Graduating at second asking at Aqueduct Nov. 10, the gray made his sophomore bow a winning one with a late rally to take the Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 9. Mott indicated that the colt would make his next start in the Apr. 6 GII Wood Memorial S. back in Ozone Park.

“He is a nice horse,” Mott said. “He is doing well and he is coming off of a spectacular race at Tampa. He was coming off a bit of a layoff and he ran very well. He has made huge strides since his maiden win, which was in early November. To come back and do that off of that layoff, I thought was a big step forward and big improvement for him, the right kind of step that you want to see and the kind of step that you need to see. That was very gratifying to see him run like that.”

Tacitus is the first foal out of champion Close Hatches (First Defence), who Mott trained to nine victories, five of which were Grade Is, and earnings over $2.7 million.

“It is a lot of fun to train the offspring from the families you have trained in the past,” Mott said. “It makes it a little more special. They are all special, but it is nice to relate to the families and it is good that they are carrying it on for us.”

Juddmonte Farm and Mott have won many major races together, but the Kentucky Derby has eluded them, which gives even more meaning to the fact that they could have two chances this year.

“They have been a great client and they breed and race good horses,” Mott said. “They want to participate in the big races. That is what they are all about and I am certainly delighted to be part of it.”

Mott's third potential Derby starter is 'TDN Rising Star' Country House, who was last seen finishing fourth in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 23 and could make his next start at Oaklawn.

“We are very interested in running him another time,” Mott said. “He has 30 points, but he may be in a situation where he needs more points than that. He is a big, tough horse and he is one we talked about, even before he ran last time, getting another race in. The timing is such with him that you can go back to the [GI] Arkansas Derby [Apr. 13]. It is three weeks and if he ran well, it is still another three weeks to the Derby. It is a doable thing with him because he is a big, tough, robust kind of horse. It is something we would certainly consider with him.”

Ultra-impressive when earning his diploma at third asking at Gulfstream Jan. 17, Country House was a bit green, but still made a strong showing when second to War of Will (War Front) in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 16 and made up ground late to be fourth last time in the Louisiana Derby.

“He made great strides from his first maiden start to when he broke his maiden and it was a big move forward when he was second in the Risen Star,” Mott said. “This last race was sort of equivalent to the Risen Star. He did not move forward as much as I would have liked to have seen, so hopefully he will in the next race.”

When asked how he felt at the thought of having three starters in the Run for the Roses this year, especially given the fact he has only had eight starters in the past 40 years, Mott said, “It is a nice situation to be in because you don't have to worry about one all of the time. You can spread it out and worry about three of them.”