Bill Mott

Julie Krone, who appeared in Friday's TDN in a photo by photograher Sarah Andrew riding TDN Rising Star Knightsbridge (Nyquist), accompanied by Bill Mott on his pony, is not back in Saratoga for any serious riding, she reported Friday morning. Instead, Krone is in town working on the documentary of her life which is being produced by Sports Illustrated Studios and Spyglass Media Group. The documentary will cover Krone's racing career and on-track successes, as well as the injuries and struggles she faced. "We were going to be in Saratoga...

A small, but very select field of five 3-year-old colts is set to face the starter in Friday's $200,000 GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga, a contest in which an argument could be made for each of the entrants. Godolphin's Jefferson Street (Street Sense) broke his maiden by nine lengths as a 1-4 mortal at Keeneland in April and after stubbing his toe when third to next-out Maxfield Stakes hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the race immediately following the GI Kentucky Derby May 4, defeated older allowance foes by some...

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Charles Essex has been suspended for 15 days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, The Golden Egg, tested positive for acepromazine after finishing second at Emerald Downs May 31. A ubiquitous sedative across the nation's backstretches, acepromazine is a Class B controlled medication under HISA, a maximum first-time violation for which is what the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit (HIWU) meted out to...

Juddmonte homebred Batten Down (Tapit) is probable for next Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes, per Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The gray won the nine-furlong GIII Ohio Derby last out June 22 at Thistledown. "I guess that is the way we are going," Mott said. "When you have a horse like that, you look at all the options and think of where you fit. We felt it was time to reach out and take a chance in the Jim Dandy." Mott added that the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug....

5th-ELP, $71K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:53 p.m. ET. TAPPAN STREET (Into Mischief), a $1 million-purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, makes his first start for CHC, Siena and WinStar. Trained by Brad Cox, the colt is the second to the races for GSP Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), who is also responsible for his older half-sister in-training Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro. Tappan Street's second dam, GSW Our Khrysty (Newfoundland), also produced GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes heroine Grace Adler (Curlin) and the recent GI Stephen Foster Stakes runner-up...

RED TR-Racing's 2022 GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) posted his second work back off an extended layoff, breezing over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track Friday morning. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said that he caught Keen Ice--with Neil Poznansky in the irons--covering three furlongs solo in :38 (10/16). Rich Strike stepped onto the fast track from the first turn in the company of a pony immediately after the second renovation break and was brought up to the top of the stretch to stand watch for...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Trainer Jeremiah Englehart has some time to figure out what to do next with GIII Sanford Stakes winner Mo Plex (Complexity). The 2-year-old colt came out of his one-length Sanford win last Saturday in good shape, Englehart said Thursday outside his barn at the Oklahoma Annex. Now he has to decide when we'll see Mo Plex again. The options are the six-furlong, $200,000 Funny Cide for New York-breds on Aug. 25 or the seven-furlong, $300,000 GI Hopeful on Sept. 2, closing day. "I am definitely not ruling out...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--After five career starts without a win, enough was enough. It was time for a change for 3-year-old colt Reynolds Channel (West Coast). Or two. Or three. Co-owner Lee Einsidler huddled with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and the following modifications were made: new distance, new jockey, and an equipment change. "I'm just glad he didn't change trainers," Mott said late Saturday afternoon. Mott could laugh and so could Einsidler because they were both standing in the winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course. Reynolds Channel finally got...

7th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 3:54 p.m. ET. SAM'S ROCKET (American Pharoah) debuts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The colt went for $115,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale before going to Frank Fletcher for $925,000 as the second highest price during this year's OBS April Sale. Dam More Roses (Uncle Mo) was purchased by D.C. Goff for $475,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale while Sam's Rocket--her only foal to date--was in utero. The first-time starter's stakes-winning second dam Flattermewithroses (Flatter) also produced two-time GII Santa...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Finally, 'TDN Rising Star' Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo) gets her chance to run at Saratoga Race Course. The 2-year-old filly, trained by Wesley Ward, is one of 11 entered to run in the 106th running of the $175,000 Listed Schuylerville Stakes on Thursday's opening day card at the Spa. Long Neck Paula was the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the June 6 Astoria S. at Saratoga but didn't get to run after the stewards scratched her. Ward had taken her off the grounds for cold water spa therapy,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-With the mighty successful prelim--the GI Belmont Stakes--now part of Saratoga's storied history, it is time to move on to the main event. The 40-day racing season, the 156th since the first meet was staged in 1863, commences Thursday with an 11-race program at Saratoga Race Course, America's oldest sporting venue. The listed six-furlong $175,000 Schuylerville S., a graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies through last year, is the traditional opening-day feature. The first post is at 1:10 p.m. By the time the meet concludes on Labor Day, Sept....

4th-ELP, 71K, Msw, f, 2yo, 1mT, 2:21 p.m. The latest to the races for extraordinary broodmare Dynaire, TAKE NOTE OF THIS (Ghostzapper) is a full-sister to GSW and track record-setter Wolfie's Dynaghost and a half to GI Sword Dancer Stakes winner Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy). From nine foals to race out of the mare, seven have been winners also including SP Lunaire (Malibu Moon) and SP Dyna Passer (Lemon Drop Kid). Take Note of This, purchased for $550,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September, races for Douglas Scharbauer out...