Bill Mott

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has acquired a part-interest in recent 'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution) from LNJ Foxwoods, Aron Wellman, Eclipse's managing partner tweeted and then later confirmed via phone Thursday afternoon. "We're in a fortunate position where we've got a good relationship with the Roth family, with Jaime, and I go way, way back with Alex Solis [III] and Jason Litt, their advisors," said Wellman. "That existing relationship certainly helped to be able to open the door for the opportunity to buy into the colt." Sent off at debut odds...

5th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 1-9, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.28, ft, 9 1/4 lengths. CANDY MAN ROCKET (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}--Kenny Lane, by Forestry) faded to seventh in his career bow in the slop at Churchill Downs Nov. 22 and received Lasix for the first time in this second attempt. Breaking on top, the 7-1 shot was overtaken by Jeebar (Frosted) and settled to stalk from second through a :22.79 opening quarter and :46.11 half-mile. Sweeping to the front entering the lane, the bay charged clear with ease to win for fun...

We're now inside the 125-day mark until the first Saturday in May. The debut 2021 GI Kentucky Derby rankings are compiled largely with an eye toward sophomore prowess rather than lauding horses for accomplishments at age two. Interestingly, five homebreds have secured spots within the initial Top 12, a departure from previous seasons when there were only one or two. 1) ESSENTIAL QUALITY (c, Tapit--Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,335,144. Last Start: 1st GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Kee, Nov. 6 Accomplishments Include:...

Tina Mott has been named to the board of directors of Saratoga WarHorse, a not-for-profit organization which uses retired Thoroughbred racehorses to work with service members and veterans who are suffering after experiencing trauma while in the military. Mott has more than 35 years of experience in the Thoroughbred industry and is the wife of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "We are thrilled to welcome Tina to the Saratoga WarHorse Board of Directors," said U.S. Army veteran and Saratoga WarHorse Foundation Chief Executive Officer Allison Cherkosly, Ph.D. "Her intense...

3rd-GP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 1:05p.m. Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's SHAFTESBURY (Uncle Mo) kicks off his career for Todd Pletcher, who already owns 16 training titles at the South Florida oval. Out of the stakes-winning Lemon Kiss (Lemon Drop Kid), the $675,000 KEESEP yearling purchase is a half-sibling to Grade I-winner Lochte (Medaglia d'Oro). TJCIS PPs 7th-GP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 3:08p.m. Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of wel-bred first-time starters, led by Charles Fipke's UNBRIDLED D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro)....

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency MOTT UNVEILS GODOLPHIN BLUEBLOOD 11th-GP, $50K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 5:11p.m. Godolphin homebred CANDY JAR (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes her career bow in this spot for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Her dam Alluring Miss (Shamardal) is a half-sister to late MGISW millionaire and top sire Scat Daddy (Johannesburg); GSW & GISP Antipathy (A.P. Indy); and stakes winners Grand Daddy (Johannesburg) and Lovestruck (Tapit). Her third dam is Grade I winner Likeable Style (Nijinsky II). TJCIS PPs

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-Gulstream Park, $50k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 12:35 p.m. Todd Pletcher saddles firster PRIME FACTOR (Quality Road) for China Horse Club and WinStar Farm. The bay colt was a $900,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland September sale. He is out of Haylie Brae (Bernardini), a half-sister to graded-winning freshman sire Speightster and a granddaughter of blue hen mare Classy 'n Smart (Smarten). Christophe Clement sends out Shel Evans's Broadway (Quality Road), a $500,000 purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. The juvenile is...

1st-Gulfstream Park, $50K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, post time: 12:05 p.m. ET The rail-drawn Flaxman Holdings homebred PANGAEA PROXIMA (Temple City), a half-sister to millionaire and Gulfstream Park GIII Palm Beach S. hero A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun), gets her career started. Her worktab includes a pair of bullet breezes at Graham Motion's Fair Hill base. Amerman Racing homebred Caribe Bean Moka (Uncle Mo), a daughter of GI Longines Just a Game S. heroine Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro), debuts for Brian Lynch. TJCIS PPs 8th-Tampa Bay Downs, $21K, Msw,...

3rd-CD, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 2:00 p.m. ET First-time starter MISS TAPIRADO (Tapit) topped the 2019 Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, bringing $1.3 million from Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud after breezing in a co-bullet :10 flat. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, she was previously a $775,000 KEENOV weanling purchase by Baccari Bloodstock. Grade I winner My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller) brought $1.5 million from SF Bloodstock & Newgate Farm while carrying Miss Tapirado at the Conquest Stables dispersal at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. Miss Tapirado's...

Thoughts I had while perusing the pre-entries for what promises to be a terrific Breeders' Cup? What are the chances that Swiss Skydiver is named Horse of the Year? It now appears almost certain that Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will go in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff instead of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "At this point we are going in the Distaff unless there is a late defection from the Classic," trainer Ken McPeek told reporters Saturday morning. The Classic field is loaded, so running Swiss Skydiver in the Distaff,...

Twenty-five years ago, Cigar put together a perfect 10-for-10 season in the middle of a streak of 16 straight wins. We remember it here. It was the sixth race on an ordinary Friday card in October at Aqueduct some 26 years ago and there was nothing to suggest that the $34,000 allowance event would ever have any relevance. Jose Santos was aboard the favorite, a recent allowance winner who started out at Suffolk Downs named Golden Plover. Julie Krone had the mount for Tom Skiffington on second-choice Taddarruj. The third...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency DAUGHTER OF PLUM PRETTY DEBUTS IN NY 1st-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20p.m. PLUM AWESOME (Curlin), the latest offspring of GI Kentucky Oaks victress Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), makes her career bow in this spot for Todd Pletcher. Mandy Pope purchased dual Grade I winner and millionaire Plum Pretty for $4.2-million at the 2012 KEENOV sale and she has produced one winner from three to race thus far. Also debuting in this test is Gary and Mary West homebred Wedding Band (Candy Ride {Arg}),...