It was a busy morning for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who sent out Grade
1 Sword Dancer probables Al Khali and
Newsdad to work a half-mile in
50.22 and five furlongs in 1:02.11, respectively. Royal Delta worked five furlongs in 1:00.66 for the Grade 1
Personal Ensign on August 26, and To Honor
and Serve breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 for a possible start in
the Grade 1 Woodward on September 1.
“Royal Delta had a very good work,” said Mott of the
4-year-old filly, who heads into the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign off victories
in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at
Churchill Downs. “I think 1:01 and change would have been fine, but she
went along pretty well. She went off the right way and finished up nice, too.
We’re two weeks away, so a decent work was in order.”
To Honor and Serve, the 2011 Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap winner, has
made three starts this year, taking the Grade 3 Westchester, then finishing
third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and fourth in the Grade 2 Suburban
Handicap, all at Belmont
Park.
“There is a very good possibility To Honor and Serve could run in
the Woodward,” said Mott. “He’s starting to act better; more
like himself. With the weather being cooler, he’s eating better and
acting better.”
While Ron the Greek,
second in the Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap, will await the Grade 1
Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont
Park, Mott said Whitney
third-place finisher Flat Out
could start in the Woodward.
“He’s not definite, but he’s a definite maybe,”
said Mott.