Bill Mott’s top females Proviso and Unrivaled
Belle galloped on the main track Friday morning in preparation for starts
in upcoming Grade 1 events at Saratoga Race Course.
Proviso will aim for her third consecutive victory at the
highest level when she heads postward in the Diana on Saturday, July 31. The Juddmonte
homebred defeated males in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap at Santa Anita,
then prevailed over fillies and mares in the Just a Game at Belmont. Both victories came at a mile, and
the 5-year-old will negotiate an extra furlong in the Diana.
“She’s done well over that trip before, so we don’t think it
will be a problem,” said Mott.
Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso’s Unrivaled Belle will enter
the Ruffian Handicap on Sunday, August 1 off a narrow victory over Rachel
Alexandra in the Grade 2 La Troienne at Churchill and a runner-up performance
in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont.
“She seems to be doing better than ever,” said Mott.