For the better part of 30 years now, I have considered Bill Mott one of the finest trainers in the world. He may have never won the Kentucky Derby, but with countless training titles, and the patient handling of horses like, Heatherten, Sefa’s Beauty, Taylor’s Special, Theatrical, Fraise, Paradise Creek, Ajina, Escena, Go Between, and of course, Cigar, Mott has cemented himself a lofty place among the elite of America’s trainers. But until last year, it had been a long time between drinks of water for Mott at the Breeders’ Cup.
Hard to believe, but Mott was suffering through a twelve year drought at the World Championships before Unrivaled Belle sprinted home to win last fall’s Ladies’ Classic. This year, the 58-year-old trainer is primed to not let twelve months, let alone twelve years, go by before adding to his Breeders’ Cup win total. Cigar’s win in the 1995 Classic may have been Mott’s finest moment so far in the Breeders’ Cup, but with the string of horses he is bringing this year, winning more than one of the big races could be in the cards for the first time in his Hall of Fame career. Let's take a look at his formidable BC lineup...
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Still in the running for the 3yo filly championship, Royal Delta has been a bit of an enigma this year. When she is good, she is very, very good. Conversely, on other days she has looked positively ordinary. With the likelihood of Havre de Grace running against the males, this year's Ladies' Classic looks wide open. With a repeat of her performances in the Alabama and Black-Eyed Susan, Royal Delta might not only be a factor in Louisville, she may be the one to beat.
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The Live Oak Plantation youngster has proven to be one of the most talented horses of his foal crop. He did it last year with big fall wins at Aqueduct, and now after a setback early this year, Mott has him back in fine fettle. His allowance win at Saratoga was eye-catching, and his follow-up romp in the Pennsylvania Derby was one of the finest races run by a sophomore all year. Any further improvement could well see Mott celebrate his second BC Classic victory.
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Yes, I know Goldikova, as well as a few other tough Euros, will be here, but just take a look at the consistency of this topnotch miler. He was game as could be in his last race, the Woodbine Mile, and possesses that kind of running style that could give him first jump as the dash to the wire begins. Maybe, just maybe, if Goldi has indeed lost a step, Courageous Cat has as good as chance as anyone to be the one that gets to the finish line before the rest.
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Birdrun (Breeders' Cup Marathon) 6-1
This one is actually my top pick in the Marathon. He has proven his class this year with a win over Drosselmeyer in the Brooklyn, and his prep, in which he showed good speed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, should set him up perfectly for his distance test at Churchill Downs. His two 12 furlong races prove he can go the distance, and in a race this long, I often look for the horse who will be leading as the field turns for home. I think Birdrun is a strong candidate to do just that, and then lead them all on a merry chase to the wire.
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Of the five BC contenders in Mott's Barn, this one might be the only one who would be a bit of a shocker. But let's face it, in this year of continuing surprises, seeing a longshot winner of the Classic should not be too much of a surprise. He is a Belmont winner, is coming off his best race of the year, when 2nd in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and could be a benefactor of tiring frontrunners at the classic 1 1/4 distance. And oh yeah, he is trained by the master, Bill Mott.
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