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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.
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
2025 Belmont Stakes odds, draw, and post positions: Journalism the favorite, just ahead of Sovereignty
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The field for the 2025 Belmont Stakes — which will be run for the second straight year at Saratoga Race Course as Belmont Park undergoes renovations — is set. There are eight horses in the field for the final leg of the 2025 Triple Crown, but there are two clear headliners: Journalism and Sovereignty. No. 7 Journalism, fresh off an electrifying win at the Preakness as an even-money favorite, was installed as the 8-5 favorite on the morning line, just ahead of No. 2 Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby champion. 'Looking at where we're drawn, there's a little bit of speed inside of us,' Journalism's trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'Obviously, the horse on outside [Heart of Honor] was a little rambunctious [in the gate] in the Preakness. I see us running into the first turn — all these Triple Crown races have a very honest pace — and I think we'll be forwardly placed.' Sovereignty, who skipped the Preakness after upsetting Journalism to win the Run for the Roses, was tagged with 2-1 odds for the Belmont. 'He's improved — as many of these horses have,' Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, said. 'This entire group, if you look at their form and the way they've developed over the course of this year, I think they've made steady progress. It should be an interesting race on Saturday.' While you can expect Sovereignty and Journalism to attract the lion's share of the betting attention at Saratoga on Saturday, there are a couple of other entrants that were priced as contenders on the morning line. Jockey Junior Alvarado celebrates winning the Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty. AP No. 6 Baeza, who ran an impressive third as a trendy late entry at the Derby, is the third favorite at 4-1, just ahead of Bob Baffert's Rodriguez. No. 3 Rodriguez (6-1) sat out the first two legs of the Triple Crown with an injury to his foot, but has been cleared for the trip to Saratoga. His last start was a win at the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. You can expect plenty of exotics tying Baeza and Rodriguez to one, or both, of the favorites, but don't be surprised if these odds drift a bit, as this race will feature a lopsided handle with money pouring in on the two heavyweights. It's clear the oddsmakers see this as a three-tiered race with the two favorites, two contenders, and then everybody else. No. 1 Hill Road, the winner of last month's Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct, is next up with 10-1 odds. He will be ridden by two-time Belmont champion Irad Ortiz Jr. and is trained by Chad Brown. Crudo, who will start in the No. 5 position, is 15-1. The two biggest long shots in the field are No. 4 Uncaged and No. 8 Heart of Honor, both of whom were priced as 30/1 roughies on the morning line. 2025 Belmont Stakes odds Number Horse Odds 1 Hill Road 10-1 2 Sovereignty 2-1 3 Rodriguez 6-1 4 Uncaged 30-1 5 Crudo 15-1 6 Baeza 4-1 7 Journalism 8-5 8 Heart of Honor 30-1
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Preakness Stakes 2025 post time and lineup: Will rain change start in Baltimore? Latest Update
The weather forecast for the Preakness Stakes 2025 is looking favourable, with only light rain showers expected on Saturday, suggesting a fast track for the race. Nine horses are set to compete, with Journalism (8-5) leading the field. The Kentucky Derby favourite, Journalism, came up just short, finishing a strong second to Sovereignty in the Run for the Roses two weeks ago, and is now aiming for victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Also Read: Preakness Stakes 2025: Meet the jockeys competing for Triple Crown glory Although earlier rain may leave the Pimlico track damp or muddy for the 2025 Preakness Stakes, improving weather is expected to help the surface dry out by race time. However, any lingering moisture could still favour horses with a proven record on wet tracks, often called "mudders." Also Read: Preakness Stakes 2025: Journalism vs Goal Oriented- who will take home the crown? The Preakness Stakes 2025 is set to take place on Saturday, May 17, with the anticipated post time at 6:50 p.m. ET. The race will be held at its traditional location– Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the second leg of the prestigious Triple Crown, as reported by CNN. Fans can look forward to an exciting showdown as top contenders battle for victory. The lineup for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown race includes: Goal Oriented Journalism American Promise Heart of Honour Pay Billy River Thames Sandman Clever Again Gosger Notably, contenders like Goal Oriented and Journalism have both performed well on off-tracks, which could make them more attractive picks for bettors if the surface remains affected by the earlier showers.
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Triple Crown winners list: The 13 horses who won thoroughbred racing's biggest achievement
Triple Crown winners list: The 13 horses who won thoroughbred racing's biggest achievement The Kentucky Derby is here, and that means the attempt to win the Triple Crown will begin with whoever takes home the Run for the Roses in 2025. Of course, that attempt to win all three — the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont — felt way more impossible just a decade ago, when the last Triple Crown winner was in 1978. KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Staff picks, long-shot contenders and bold predictions for the Kentucky Derby In the last eight years, we've seen TWO horses complete the three wins. We'll see if this is a trend or an exception as the years go on. Before Saturday's race, here's a look at the 13 horses who took home the Triple Crown: Triple crown winners of thoroughbred horse racing
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
2025 Preakness Stakes odds, post positions: Journalism the favorite
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The 2025 Preakness Stakes will take place on Saturday, May 17, at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore. The second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, the field for the Preakness will feature nine horses, but it's one that isn't in the field making the most noise. Sovereignty, the winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, will skip the Preakness and head straight to the Belmont, ending any hope of a Triple Crown winner this year. The horse that Sovereignty beat out at Churchill Downs, Journalism, will make the trip to Pimlico and was installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite on Monday evening. Journalism went off as a 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. However, Journalism isn't the only horse making the trip from Churchill Downs to Pimlico. No. 7 Sandman, who went off as the second-favorite behind Journalism at the Run for the Roses, is 4-1 to win the Preakness after finishing seventh at the Derby. No. 3 American Promise, who went off as the fifth-favorite at the Kentucky Derby, is 15-1 to win the Preakness after coming in 16th at Churchill Downs. American Promise was installed as a 15-1 long shot to win the Preakness. AP One price to keep an eye on is No. 1 Goal Oriented. The lone Bob Baffert entry after Rodriguez bowed out, Goal Oriented has won both races in his career, including an impressive victory at Churchill Downs on May 3. Goal Oriented was tagged with 6-1 odds on the morning line. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps The two non-Derby horses with the shortest odds are No. 6 River Thames (9-2) and No. 8 Clever Again (5-1). The biggest long shots in the nine-horse field are No. 5 Pay Billy (20-1) and No. 9 Gosger (20-1) 2025 Preakness Stakes odds Post Horse Odds 1 Goal Oriented 6-1 2 Journalism 8-5 3 American Promise 15-1 4 Heart of Honor 12-1 5 Pay Billy 20-1 6 River Thames 9-2 7 Sandman 4-1 8 Clever Again 5-1 9 Gosger 20-1 Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
