Bill Mott

$2-Million Nyquist Filly Leads Vibrant Trade at OBS March Sale

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - Brisk trade continued from start to finish of the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday in Central Florida and the day concluded with figures well ahead of the auction's 2025 renewal. The session was topped by a filly by Nyquist who sold for $2 million to Boyd Racing from the Wavertree Stables consignment. Through two sessions of the three-day sale, 295 horses have sold for $51,336,500. After two sessions in 2025, 269...

[ Read More ]
Sovereignty at Saratoga
Bill Mott Outlines Plans for Sovereignty, Knightsbridge, Baeza, Chief Wallabee

Fresh off an action-packed Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Bill Mott wasted no time returning to the routine at his Payson Park base. The Hall of Fame trainer was back on the track the following morning to oversee Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) progressing toward his 4-year-old debut. The Godolphin homebred worked four furlongs in company in :49.80. Mott described the breeze as "workmanlike," noting that it was exactly the type of effort he has come to expect from the three-time Grade I winner. "He's not a spectacular workhorse...

[ Read More ]
Gilded Bandit
Second Chances: A Rallying Fourth on Debut, Gilded Bandit 'Will Improve From the Experience'

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Gilded Bandit (c, 3, Charlatan--Diamond Ore, by Tapit) had plenty of steam behind him ahead of his debut on the stacked Coolmore Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28. He fired back-to-back bullet drills at Bill Mott's Payson Park base, including a four-furlong move in :48 (1/53) Feb. 20, and was well-supported as the 3-1 second-choice off a 10-1 morning-line quote in a deep six-furlong...

[ Read More ]
Sovereignty at Saratoga
Sovereignty Works at Payson, Targets Oaklawn Handicap

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile at Payson Park on Sunday morning. Also named the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old of the 2025 season, the Godolphin homebred covered four furlongs in the official time of :49.64. According to the DRF, the colt worked in tandem with GSP Royal Majesty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), finishing a length ahead of his stablemate while galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.88. "I thought he looked great," Bill Mott told DRF Sunday. "He's been off a while. You'd want six or eight...

[ Read More ]
Knightsbridge
Streaking Knightsbridge Romps in Gulfstream Park Mile

Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Knightsbridge (h, 5, Nyquist--Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini) made his 1-5 odds look like a bargain versus four overmatched rivals in Saturday's GIII Gulfstream Park Mile S. He chased in second beneath Junior Alvarado, took over with ease on the far turn and opened daylight in the stretch to win in style by 11 1/4 lengths. Steal Sunshine (Constitution) was second. Flying Liam (Liam's Map) was third. "I think he's the best miler in the country right now," Alvarado said. "It was...

[ Read More ]
Letter to the Editor: In Pursuit of a Level Playing Field

Anytime Bill Mott and Mark Casse have something to say I pay attention...and they have weighed in on the importance of maintaining use of furosemide (Lasix) on race day as a help in preventing pulmonary bleeding during races. I agree with them...but with one condition. Horses who receive Lasix should carry more weight. Bill and Mark and the other trainers speaking out contend that Lasix should be allowed until scientific studies can provide definitive proof that Lasix is a "performance-enhancing drug." As a former National Defense Research Fellow during my...

[ Read More ]
Friday Insights: Son Of War Front And New Money Honey Unveiled At Gulfstream

5th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, 2:20 p.m. ET. Over the course of her bright racing career for e Five, New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) collected four higher level trophies--two of which were of the Grade I variety. The second to the races for her celebrated dam, WRATHCHILD (War Front) will carry the same colors as New Money Honey and his older half-brother Nemo (Into Mischief). The first-time starter trained by Brendan Walsh enjoys an extended female family which includes sire Any Given Saturday (by Distorted Humor) and GSW Bohemian Lady...

[ Read More ]
Will HISA Ban Lasix in All Races? Its Board of Directors Will Soon Decide

Since the inception of HISA, the diuretic Lasix (also known as furosemide) has been banned in all 2-year-old races and in stakes races. But that may be about to change. On May 22, HISA's nine-member Board of Directors will take a vote on whether or not the medication should be banned in all races. On that date, unless the board votes unanimously to continue the status quo, the medication will be banned. The board could also make any number of recommendations for modifications to the current provisions. To the extent...

[ Read More ]
Letter to the Editor: Horse Must Come First With Any Reform Efforts

Editor's note: Currently, in HISA states, Lasix is banned in two-year-old racing and in stakes races 48 hours before a race. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is approaching a critical vote regarding the use of race-day Lasix in the rest of racing. Per the original Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020, the drug is effectively banned under that same 48-hour rule, though most states currently operate under a three-year exemption put in place to allow time for studies to be conducted. That exemption is now coming to...

[ Read More ]
Five Fleet Fillies of the Week: Feb. 9-15

This week's rankings are topped by the fastest Beyer for any female thus far in 2026. 5) PASSAGE EAST, LRL, 2-14, Barbara Fritchie S., 7f, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure: 92 (f, 4, Audible--Salten Sapity, by Congrats) O-Larry Rabold; B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky); T-Hugh McMahon; J-Sheldon Russell. Trainer Hugh McMahon has won 1,227 races, but few could have given him more excitement than Passage East's gritty nostril victory after a spirited battle against odds-on favorite Takethemoneyhoney. McMahon claimed the filly for $30k out of her second lifetime start, and after a...

[ Read More ]
Sovereignty and Neil Poznansky at Saratoga
Sovereignty Is Back On Work Tab; Could Resurface In The Oaklawn Handicap Or The Alysheba

Unraced since winning the Aug. 23 GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) got back to work Sunday morning at Payson Park in Florida, working three furlongs in 37.40 breezing. It was the first workout this year for the 2025 Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Champion. "We've got him back on a regular training schedule," trainer Bill Mott said. "We're a ways away from sorting out exactly where he will run. There are a couple of races in mind. We don't think he'll be ready until April, so...

[ Read More ]
Grade I Winner Baeza to Mott

C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza (McKinzie), winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby and third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes last season, will be transferred to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, according to the DRF Monday. The colt was previously trained by John Shirreffs, who passed away last week. "The most important thing is the quality of Bill Mott, the kind of person that Robert Clay and myself relate to," Lee Searing told DRF. "John Shirreffs would probably have liked that pick." Baeza, who...

[ Read More ]
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.