Bill Mott

It's not often that a runner-up effort translates into a key selling point for a new stallion, but when that second-place finish comes behind a horse like Flightline, people take notice. Such has been the case for Olympiad (Speightstown - Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), whose career finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic made him a standout in the 2023 class of incoming stallions. Ryan Norton, who joined Gainesway as the farm's new stallion director a few weeks before the Breeders' Cup, explained how Olympiad's performance at Keeneland over...

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini) tuned up for the Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational with a five-furlong drill in 1:01.60 (1/5) at Payson Park Sunday. "He went very well this morning," said trainer Bill Mott. "I was happy with him. He galloped out well and cooled out. It's looking like he's coming into the race well." Art Collector, winner of the 2021 GI Woodward S. and two-time winner of the GII Charles Town Classic, has been off since finishing fifth in the Oct. 1 GII Lukas Classic. He...

2nd-Aqueduct, $70,000, (S), Msw, 1-7, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.75, my, 10 1/4 lengths. PLEASE BE NICE (c, 3, Violence--Oenophile, by Pulpit), an RNA as a yearling for $45,000, he sold for $210,000 EASMAY before starting his training regime over the summer at Saratoga. Going off at odds of 3-1, the chestnut colt broke alertly and dueled for the lead up front as the field went down the backstretch with a time of :22.77 after a quarter-mile. Please Be Nice rode the rail at a controlling :47.24 for the half, and at...

Edited Press Release Cody's Wish (Curlin), this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner who shares an endearing bond with Cody Dorman, has been voted the winner of the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the annual award recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing. Owned by Godolphin, trained by Bill Mott, and ridden throughout the year by Junior Alvarado, Cody's Wish and his special story have gained affection and admiration that transcend...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 11:50 a.m. EDT Bill Mott unveils Stone Farm homebred BEARINGS (Candy Ride {Arg}) in this event. The chestnut is a full-sibling to Grade I-winning young sire Mastery and a half to SP Clear Sailing (Empire Maker). TJCIS PPs 7th-TAM, $32K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:35 p.m. EDT Red Oak Stable homebred WHITE HOLD GOLD (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes a very timely debut Saturday for Greg Sacco. She makes her first trip to the post just eight minutes before her half-brother...

Olympiad (Speightstown--Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), a five-time graded stakes winner, led by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., and most recently second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has been retired to Gainesway Farm. The $700,000 Keeneland September graduate will stand for an advertised fee of $35,000 LFSN. One of North America's top older males of 2022, Olympiad posted eight wins in 13 career starts for earnings of $3,027,560 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and owners Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods. Olympiad's year started...

LEXINGTON, KY - Now that's an 'Elite' sprinter. Juddmonte's streaking Elite Power (Curlin) came storming down the center of the course with massive strides to blow past longshot C Z Rocket (City Zip) and heavily favored champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) to capture Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland. The 5-1 winner punched his ticket to the bluegrass with a visually impressive score in Belmont's seven-furlong GII Vosburgh S. Hall of Famer Bill Mott was also in the winner's circle with another son of Curlin two races earlier on...

LEXINGTON, KY--Godolphin homebred Cody's Wish (Curlin) made quite a few wishes come true beneath cloudy skies Saturday when rallying from well back and edging MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) to take the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The colt was named for 16-year-old Cody Dorman, who met the bay when he was just a foal at Gainsborough as part of Keeneland's Make-a-Wish day. Cody's Wish put his head in the young boy's lap, making an instant connection, and his story has touched many in the racing world. Dorman and...

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker (English Channel) will be looking to regain his best form while making a record-setting sixth Breeders' Cup appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Saturday at Keeneland. "The owners are very excited to give him an opportunity to run and I think he would be the first to run six times, a record, at the Breeders' Cup," said trainer Bill Mott. "How's he doing? Well, he's doing fine...he's doing great...but is he at his best from...

While all eyes were on where undefeated superstar Flightline (Tapit) would be slotted at Monday's Breeders' Cup draw, and overall the dirt races this weekend have gotten a bit more attention, the fields for the turf contests also bring plenty of interesting storylines. George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) was the beaten favorite when finishing a close third in last year's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and received that betting attention because of her utter dominance over her fellow American turf mares. This year, trainer...

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods' Olympiad (Speightstown--Tokyo Time, Medaglia d'Oro) will take up stallion duties at Gainesway Farm upon his retirement from racing. To date, Olympiad has won eight of 12 career starts, including five graded stakes victories, highlighted by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Having already amassed over $2-million in earnings, the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland next month. Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Olympiad captured five graded victories this season, beginning...

If Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott had any qualms whether his star turf distaffer could hold her own against the boys, George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) dispelled all doubts with an emphatic 2 3/4-length score over males in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, run this year at Belmont at the Big A. Pacesetter Bye Bye Melvin (Uncle Mo) was second with Astronaut (Quality Road) checking in third, and second choice Gufo (Declaration of War), third as the favorite in last year's renewal, a dull last of...