Bill Mott

Between travelers en route and those already on grounds, Distaff contenders put in their final preps in advance of the World Championships this weekend and connections provide their thoughts on how their charges are doing. Multiple Grade I winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out on track Monday morning at Del Mar to work four furlongs in :49.80 (5/5) with Neil Poznansky up for the ride. According to his connections, it was all by design and all systems are go. "He went easy. He had an extended gallop and then he...

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) will host its largest annual fundraiser, 'Benefits for the Backside: A Day at the Races', Friday, Nov. 21 in the First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, the non-profit announced via press release. Set to begin at noon, guests will enjoy a day at the races with front row views from the clubhouse turn while celebrating and supporting backstretch workers and their families. An auction will be available both in-person and online, and a raffle will be held for a chance to win a Derby or...

Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) lived up to his name when rallying from last to surge past 7-5 favorite Universe (Global Campaign) in deep stretch and win Sunday's GIII Street Sense Stakes on opening day of Churchill Downs' 136th Fall Meet. Breaking from post 7 on the far outside, Incredibolt was wide into the first turn and unhurried in last early as unbeaten Ganaas (War Front) set modest early fractions of :24.29 and :48.83. Into the final turn, Incredibolt began to pick up the pace and zipped into fourth...

The 2025 Fall Meet wrapped Saturday with a season-record of $217-million in all-sources wagering, Keeneland announced via press release. Propelled by record purse money and overall good weather for the duration of the meeting, the 17 days of racing totaled $217,266,759 on the season--surpassing the previous record of $210,165,945 set last year for the 2024 Fall Meet. It was a 3.38% increase. Average daily purses of $1,341,107 also set a Keeneland record and races averaged 9.2 starters per card. Opening Fall Stars Weekend (excluding whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) generated $48.9-million...

On both coasts, preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic continued as leading contenders from the West took to the track, and hopefuls from the East began finalizing travel plans. Scheduled to walk Saturday morning after the trio put in Friday works at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher-trainee Antiquarian (Preservationist) will ship to Del Mar Sunday in advance of the World Championships along with stablemates Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution). "I don't think [Antiquarian is] a particularly difficult horse to ride," said Pletcher. "I think he needs a strong rider....

Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) breezed five furlongs in 1:01.39 over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Sunday as he prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty was piloted in the work by assistant trainer Neil Poznansky, starting slightly in front of workmate Playa Del Mar [1:02.27] before kicking away in the stretch and finishing several lengths in front. NYRA Clockers caught Sovereignty through splits of :24 2/5, :36 3/5 and galloping out in 1:14 3/5 over the fast...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In his opening remarks during this year's Kentucky Derby post-race news conference, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott paid tribute to the entire team behind the brilliant Sovereignty (Into Mischief). "I'm so proud of everybody that had anything to do with getting this horse to this point and it takes a lot of people," Mott said. "It takes a family, and it takes a community to get him ready, really." Neil Poznansky, the regular morning work partner for the nation's top 3-year-old, has been with Mott...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Leading Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) continued his preparations for the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a strong gallop on a brisk Saturday morning at Saratoga. "He'll breeze tomorrow, then hopefully one more time before he leaves," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said back by his barn during the break. "We've been on schedule. We mapped out a little, potential schedule for him and it's gone pretty well so far. He's been doing great." With the rising sun, morning mist and...

5th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:08 p.m. ET. Godolphin homebred BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense) is set for her unveiling under the care of trainer Brendan Walsh, who also conditioned her half-sister, champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). Both are out of GI Spinaway Stakes heroine Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), a $3.5-million buy for Stoud Coleman Bloodstock during the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale. This dam is herself a half-sister to GISW & MGISP Lear's Princess (Lear Fan). TJCIS PPS 4th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:36 p.m. ET. Lemon's...

With his win in Friday's sixth race at Keeneland with In the Stars (Into Mischief). Rusty Arnold became the winningest trainer in Keeneland history. It was his 308th winner at the Lexington track, one more than Bill Mott. An emotional Arnold was still savoring the victory when reached by phone Friday night. "I'm from here and started out here," Arnold said. "I came out here and started with my father. It means a lot to me. When I started out, I was just trying to win one race here. Now...

Reigning Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bill Mott has been named recipient of the 2025 Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award, the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners (KTO) announced Wednesday. Mott will be honored at the KTO's annual awards dinner Saturday, November 22 at the Kentucky Derby Museum. The Warner Jones Award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's initial resurgence. Jones was the inaugural...

A few hours after winning this year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes with World Beater (Oscar Performance), Riley Mott was home with his family eating takeout pizza. He shared a beer with his father, Bill, and was in bed by 9 p.m. The celebration was quiet, almost ordinary, but the milestone was anything but. Less than three years after going out on his own, Mott, age 33, had claimed his first Grade I win at the track that he had once called his playground and the town where he had...