Latest news with #BillMott
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sovereignty Pleases In Breeze For Jim Dandy
Sovereignty Pleases In Breeze For Jim Dandy originally appeared on Paulick Report. Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Sovereignty breezed a half-mile in 48.99 seconds over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Friday in preparation for an planned start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) July 26 at the Spa. Advertisement With usual exercise rider Neil Poznansky aboard, Sovereignty started about a length in front of workmate Jefferson Street, going his first quarter in 24.56 seconds, Daily Racing Form reports. Jefferson Street went to the outside Sovereignty heading into the stretch and Sovereignty finished in 24.12 seconds, about a length in front of his workmate at the wire. Friday's tune-up followed Sovereignty's lone half mile breeze June 27 in a slower :50.85 on the Oklahoma training track. 'I didn't want them head and head because they're going to go too fast,' said trainer Bill Mott told the Form about Friday's breeze. 'I didn't want the other horse joining him until they turned into the stretch, I just wanted something for him to finish with. I just figured he had one easy one, just pick it up a little bit today.' Godolphin's homebred Sovereignty, an Into Mischief colt, could have two more breezes prior to his expected start in the Jim Dandy, a springboard to the $1.25-million Travers (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Advertisement Baeza, third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:11.20 at Santa Anita on Friday morning. Trainer John Shirreffs has previously said he is targeting the Jim Dandy and Travers. Others possible for the Jim Dandy are Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, and Peter Pan (G3) winner Hill Road. Also on Friday's work tab at Saratoga was Metropolitan Handicap (G1) runner-up and Whitney (G1) hopeful Fierceness, who breezed a half-mile in 48.72 seconds over Saratoga's main track. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: Sovereignty Back On Work Tab With Easy Half Mile
Watch: Sovereignty Back On Work Tab With Easy Half Mile originally appeared on Paulick Report. Three-year-old divisional leader Sovereignty was back on the work tab June 27 at Saratoga, his first official workout since the son of Into Mischief won the Belmont Stakes. Officially, the Godolphin homebred covered a half-mile over the Oklahoma training track in 50.85 seconds, according to Equibase records. 'The track looks very slow, but he looked fine, that's all that really matters,' Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott told the Daily Racing Form after the work. 'I was looking for 49, but given the track, that's probably what it was. He's doing fine. It's just his first work back.' Check out video of the work below: Advertisement View the original article to see embedded media. Following his wins in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes—connections opted to skip the Preakness, negating a Triple Crown bid—Sovereignty will be pointed to the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26. Mott hopes to use that spot as a prep race for the G1 Travers four weeks later. Read more at the Daily Racing Form. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Horse Of The Year 2025: Sovereignty, Journalism, Or Fierceness?
With the first half of the 2025 racing season in the books, the race for Horse of the Year is heating up — and three standout contenders are emerging from the pack: Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) winner; Journalism, the Preakness (G1) hero and Derby and Belmont runner-up; and Fierceness, the 2-year-old Eclipse champion and winner of last year's Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1). Each colt has built a strong résumé, and how they perform in the upcoming summer and fall races will ultimately determine who takes home the sport's most prestigious year-end honor. After winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) and skipping the Preakness Stakes (G1), Sovereignty silenced all doubters with a dominant performance in the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. His powerful late kick and ability to handle the 1 1/4-mile distance in that race left a lasting impression. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sovereignty has the pedigree and the progression to keep climbing, and he'll likely target major summer and fall races like the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). A win in either — or both — could cement his status at the top. The key to Sovereignty's campaign will be consistency. He already has two classic wins and holds the edge over Journalism having beaten him twice, and if he adds another Grade 1 against older horses, the Horse of the Year trophy could be his to lose. His running style makes him dangerous in big fields with a hot pace — and with improving speed figures, he's trending upward at just the right time. If you're looking for a fighter, look no further than Journalism. The son of Curlin has danced every dance, finishing a gritty second in the Kentucky Derby before outdueling the field in the Preakness Stakes. Perhaps his most impressive race of the year was a loss to the aforementioned Sovereignty in the Belmont. Trained by Mike McCarthy, Journalism has shown tactical speed, resilience, and perhaps most importantly, durability — a trait that's often lacking in top 3-year-olds. Journalism's versatility means he could show up anywhere this summer: the Haskell Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy (G2), or even try older horses early in a race like the Whitney (G1) or Pacific Classic (G1). If he can stack another Grade 1 win on top of the Preakness and remain in the headlines through the fall, voters may reward his toughness and resume over raw brilliance. His case improves significantly if Sovereignty and Fierceness split their efforts or falter down the stretch. It might feel like Fierceness has faded from the conversation after his loss last out in the Met Mile (G1), but don't count him out yet. The 2023 2-Year-Old Champion stormed into 2024 with a huge Florida Derby (G1) win before flopping badly in the Kentucky Derby. Todd Pletcher gave him some time off after that disappointment, he came back a beast, rattling off wins in the Jim Dandy and Travers before a very good second in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). he could still be a major Horse of the Year threat. The Saratoga-based colt could be pointed towards races like the Whitney Stakes (G1) and the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and it's not impossible to imagine him winning both of those races. As it stands now, Sovereignty probably holds the narrow lead due to his impressive Derby and Belmont wins. Journalism has consistency on his side but lacks the head-t0-head matchup record. Fierceness, meanwhile, represents the wildcard — the kind of horse who, with just one or two blowout wins, could rewrite the narrative late. Ultimately, the Horse of the Year title will come down to the second half of the season. The Travers, Pennsylvania Derby, and Breeders' Cup Classic loom large. All three contenders have the talent to win it all — now it's just a matter of who can rise above the rest when it counts the most.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider: Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping Preakness Stakes damages horse racing
There will be no Triple Crown winner this year as Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will skip the Preakness Stakes, a decision that stunned the horse-racing world. Trainer Bill Mott told reporters the team is keeping Sovereignty out of the Preakness due to 'long-term interests,' though the horse is still scheduled to run in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in New York. Advertisement In an interview with Sportsnaut's Evan Groat, senior writer Bob Ehalt said the decision to keep Sovereignty from running in the Preakness 'doesn't help the sport.' 'They're wondering, well, why aren't you going?' said Ehalt. 'Certainly it has to hurt a race like the Preakness when you don't have the Triple Crown in play and even more so the Belmont Stakes where they have not had a Triple Crown bid since 2018 when Justify won it all.' Based on Mott's comments about the horse's long-term interests, Ehalt believes that Mott and horse racing team Godolphin — founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai — have different priorities for Sovereignty. 'I think there is a desire amongst Godolphin and Bill Mott to win races down the road in like the Travers [which] is what Bill Mott would call a bucket list item,' noted Ehalt. 'And certainly Dubai World Cup next year, being that the owner of Sovereignty is Sheikh Mohammed, who founded the race, certainly that would be a plum for him to win that race with one of his own horses.' Advertisement Ehalt questioned, however, how running in the Preakness would have impacted Sovereignty's preparation for those future races. 'But I don't necessarily get how running in the Preakness is going to prevent you from winning the Travers or winning the Dubai World Cup,' said Ehalt. 'I mean, if he gets beat in the Preakness, well, you skip the Belmont and you point for those other races.' Journalism, the pre-Kentucky Derby favorite who finished second, will run in the Preakness. Nine horses are set to compete in the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17 at 6:50 p.m. ET. The race will air on NBC and CNBC and stream on Peacock. Related: Updated ranking of the 2025 Preakness Stakes horses, including race favorite Journalism
Winnipeg Free Press
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sovereignty touched by Manitoba magic
It's a long and winding road from St. Laurent, Man., to the Kentucky Derby, but Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott found the way. When Sovereignty came powering down the stretch to win the 151st Kentucky Derby five weeks ago for Mott, it marked the third time in four years that Manitoba had a strong connection to the Run for the Roses. In 2022, 80-1 shot Rich Strike became the first horse in history out of a Manitoba-bred mare to win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike was out of Gold Strike, who was bred by Winnipegger Dick Bonnycastle of Harlequin Romance fame. In 2023, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan was sired by Goldencents, who is out of a Manitoba-bred named Golden Works, a two-time winner at Assiniboia Downs bred by Phil Kives. JEFF ROBERSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Sovereignty crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby early in May this year. Now, we've got 71-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who stomped the terra in St. Laurent, during his formative years with horses, as the conditioner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner. 'My father and his partner owned some property near St. Laurent,' said Mott from his barn in New York. 'We had a ranch up there. I spent a couple of years on the ranch when I was 12 and 13 years old. We had eight or nine hundred head of cattle up there every summer. That was before I went to the racetrack, but we made a few trips to Assiniboia Downs. My father was a veterinarian, and he always loved horses, so we went to the races in Winnipeg.' 'My father bought a couple horses out of Winnipeg. He bought a horse named Royal Envy from Assiniboia Downs and sent him to me at Park Jefferson. We won some races with him, he was a pretty neat horse. I knew some guys who raced up there on a regular basis. 'Roy Bittner and Melvin Schanzenbach would come down to Atokad in Nebraska when Assinboia Downs closed up. I was just a kid then, in 67-68. 'Schanzy' had a horse named John Jet. He was lengths ahead of the other South Dakota-breds. He brought him back in the fall of the year to win some of the bigger races.' In 1998, at age 45, Mott surpassed H. Allen Jerkens as the youngest trainer ever to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. He's won 15 Breeders Cup races, two Kentucky Derbies, two Belmont Stakes and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in North America four times. He's won 5,513 races and over US$360 million in purses. He started training horses shortly after leaving Manitoba, which he recalled fondly. 'I was living on the ranch in St. Laurent by myself after we got it fenced,' said Mott. 'Then it was just me and a guy named Swede Benoit from South Dakota. We took care of all the cattle and the horses. You have to ride up there. It's pretty rough country. You don't just drive around the pasture. There's some lowlands, and a lot of trees and brush. We rode everyday checking the cattle, taking care of them. 'The first year we were up there we didn't even have a shower. We heated water up and took baths in a wash tub. The second year my Dad put in a shower. We were first class then. I've got a lot of good memories of my time up there. I loved it.' One of the things that sets the great trainers apart from the good ones is their empathy for horses. Hall of Famer Jerkens, widely regarded as one of the best horse trainers in the history of the sport, had it. Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham, the all-time leading trainer of stakes winners in California had it. Mott definitely has it, for both people and horses. I first noticed it in Mott when I was covering Cigar at the 1995 Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park for the Thoroughbred Times. One of the most famous horses in the history of the sport, Cigar was in the midst of establishing a 16-race winning streak of the likes that hadn't been seen since the mighty Citation accomplished a similar feat in the late 1940s. On one memorable morning the Belmont backstretch was flooded, and I was the lone reporter standing outside Cigar's barn in the pouring rain. Mott asked me why I was standing outside getting drenched, and I told him my job was to cover Cigar for the week. 'I'm not supposed to let you in the barn,' he said. 'But you can't stand out there. Come on in.' I met Cigar, and his groom Juan Campozano, who, along with Mott, let me pet the most famous horse in the world at the time. It was one of those special moments in life that you never forget, thanks to the kindness of Mott. On the morning of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic, I walked out to the track with Cigar, who was accompanied by Mott on his pony. It was still raining and the track would be sloppy that day, and we wondered what Cigar would think of it. The moment Cigar stepped on the racetrack he reared up and looked like Pegasus. There would be no beating him that day. He won by 2-1/2 lengths and it was never in doubt. Immediately after the race, I was standing on the track beside his owner Allen Paulson and he turned to me and said, 'He's something else, isn't he.' Later that evening at the barn, Mott and everyone in the barn connected to Cigar signed a numbered print for me. While gathered around the barn, Mott tried to read a poem entitled Of Cigar, Smoke and Mirrors by Cigar as told to Gilda A. Libero, who at the time was walking horses for Mott, and who now works as the program co-ordinator at the New York Racing Association. 'I couldn't get through it,' said Mott. 'I kept tearing up.' The last half of the poem read: JESSICA HILL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Trainer Bill Mott (right) lifts the August Belmont trophy as jockey Junior Alvarado looks on after winning the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty. The knowledge of what lies within is my hidden wealth. For when all the talk is said and done, and judgements handed in, I, and those who love me know, what's there has always been. Eye to eye, who dares to look, I capture their reflection. A mirrored gaze reveals their soul, now open to detection. With knowledge of the answer, a question I do ask: Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Rise up now, so truth be known, are YOU equal to the task? Sovereignty was up to the task in the Kentucky Derby. As was his trainer. The two friends teamed up again to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday. Sovereignty's Kentucky Derby win was reminiscent of one of the best conditioning jobs in history to win the Derby, accomplished by Charlie Whittingham with Ferdinand in 1986. Mott and Whittingham knew they had a Derby horse long before the race. When asked about the comparison and credited for the work he did with Sovereignty, Mott was humble as always. 'He's a good horse,' he said. 'And I guess they make you look good.' Sometimes, there's a reason.
