Sovereignty Can Help Mott Break New Ground In Travers

[Wandering Eyes]

There really isn't a whole lot that trainer Bill Mott has left to accomplish in the Thoroughbred business.

Since recording his first graded stakes victory with Heatherten–who also gave him his first Grade I success–for owner John Franks some 41 years ago, the 72-year-old has saddled the winners of over 150 top-level contests with superstars of either sex, such as Taylor's Special, Theatrical (Ire), Paradise Creek, Fraise, legendary dual Horse of the Year Cigar, Ajina, Escena, Wekiva Springs, Favorite Trick, Dream Supreme and her son Majestic Warrior, Drosselmeyer, To Honor and Serve, Royal Delta, Close Hatches, Lea, Yoshida (Jpn), Country House, War Like Goddess, Elite Power, Speaker's Corner and his most recent HOTY, Cody's Wish. And the list goes on.

He's prepared  those top-class runners for such prominent owners as Allen Paulson, Bert and Diana Firestone, Don Dizney, Kinsman Farm, WinStar Farm, Claiborne Farm, Joe Shields, Jr. and partners, Charlotte Weber, George Krikorian, Juddmonte and Godolphin, to name just a handful.

In the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, it is Sheikh Mohammed's far-flung operation that has provided the South Dakota native with the third and fourth Classic victories this season, and Sovereignty (Into Mischief) can tick off what is to this point an unchecked box with a victory in Saturday's $1.25-million GI DraftKings Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Mott has sent out the Travers runner-up three times, including Close Hatches's son Tacitus (Tapit) back in 2019, but he's never hoisted the trophy. Not yet, in any event.

“Tacitus was my best shot [in 2019, won by Code of Honor, Tacitus was second as the favorite],” Mott told TDN's Tim Wilkin earlier this week. “He was the livest horse I had coming in.

“My chances keep getting better and better,” he continiued. “We were second with Vision and Verse [beaten 3/4 of a length behind Lemon Drop Kid in 1999], that was a long time ago. But I would like to do it.”

Just four have signed up to face the son of Crowned (Bernardini), who beat favored Journalism (Curlin) fair and square when ridiculously nearly 8-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby in May, then skipped the GI Preakness Stakes to prepare for the GI Belmont Stakes over Saturday's course and distance on June 7. Incredibly not favored on that occasion, he posted yet another decisive victory while racing much handier to the speed and repeated the dose in the July 26 GII Jim Dandy Stakes, running away from Derby and Belmont third Baeza (McKinzie) to consolidate his spot at the head of this year's 3-year-old class.

Still, his experience dictates that Mott takes absolutely nothing for granted.

“His record, people have watched him, it's in black and white what he's done,” Mott said. “But by the same token, they've got to go around there. They need to do it in the afternoon. It is not a done deal, that is why they are going to run the race.”

A Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned and Steve Asmussen-trained son of Not This Time named Epicenter won the 2022 Travers, and the same connections team with the progressive Magnitude (Not This Time), who has a puncher's chance to pull the Travers upset as the potential controlling speed at the 'Graveyard of Champions.'

Practically out of nowhere, the $450,000 Keeneland September purchase overcame gate 12 of 12 to win February's GII Risen Star Stakes by nearly 10 lengths (108 Beyer), but was ruled off the Triple Crown trail due to injury about 48 hours later. Nursed back to health, the bay thumped five overmatched foes by 9 1/4 lengths in the July 5 Iowa Derby (Beyer 105) and if those races are not aberrations, he could give Team Sovereignty something to think about.

Magnitude and Carlos Rosas work through the Saratoga fog on Aug. 17 | Sarah Andrew

“We thought that was the perfect race back,” said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Asmussen. “He ran good figures once again. We wanted to give him plenty of time between that race and the Travers, which we've pointed to. We have to run against a [potential] champion, and that is never an easy task, but hopefully we are doing as good as we can, physically, and get the job done.”

Chad Brown has yet to win the Travers in a career that will eventually land him in the Hall of Fame across Union Avenue from the track. Strategic Focus (Gun Runner) was named a 'TDN Rising Star' when running home powerfully to graduate versus older rivals going the one-turn mile at Aqueduct Apr. 19, then was somewhat controversially DQd from an apparent first-level allowance victory here on June 6. When last seen in the restricted Curlin Stakes July 24, the chestnut led late but was run down by 'Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) and settled for third. The blinkers go on this afternoon, a 30% move for the barn, but he nevertheless needs to find several lengths of improvement to trouble the top two.

“I've heard this complaint about him when he makes the lead from two different jockeys, so we'll try a little blinker on him,” Brown said. “He should have a good target to run at in Asmussen's horse–one he very well might not even get by. It's not like he's going to make the lead early on that horse–that's a good horse.”

Chancer McPatrick shortens up for the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes earlier on the card.

A victory from either McAfee (Cloud Computing)–the year-younger half-brother to Horse of the Year and GI Personal Ensign Stakes hopeful Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)–or Bracket Buster (Vekoma) would represent an upset of near-unprecedented proportions.

Stars Come Out To Play On The Undercard

The Travers is supported by an additional five graded stakes, four of those at Grade I level.

Sophomore sprinters are in the spotlight in the Jerkens, which could well be settled by a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars'. CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Patch Adams (Into Mischief) failed to shine when tried around two turns early this season, finishing fourth in the GIII Southwest Stakes and GIII Tampa Bay Derby, but he is only once-beaten at sprint trips, including a 2 1/4-length defeat of the re-opposing Madaket Road (Quality Road) in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes on Belmont Day.

“He's a one-turn horse. He showed Belmont Week that he's a Grade I horse,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We always thought he was a Grade I talent and he's training like he's ready to put in a big effort. We're excited about him.”

Patch Adams is unraced since taking the GI Woody Stephens S. on June 7 | Sarah Andrew

Verifire (Authentic) galloped to 'Rising Star' honors on Colonial debut during their March meeting and has since added two more convincing victories, a 6 1/2-length allowance score at Pimlico on Black-Eyed Susan day May 16 and the June 29 Maxfield Stakes at Churchill, where he had next-out GII Amsterdam Stakes hero Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One) and Captain Cook (Practical Joke) in second and third, respectively.

“Both are doing great–they breezed from the gate last week and are set up for big runs,” Cox said of Patch Adams and Verifire. “It's going to be a good, deep race from top to bottom, and I think they both fit very well.”

As mentioned above, 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick cuts back for the Jerkens, but was soundly defeated with no apparent alibi in the Woody Stephens. Madaket Road is joined by his Bob Baffert stablemates Barnes (Into Mischief) and the unexposed Midland Money (Shancelot), unbeaten in two starts and a 3 1/4-length allowance winner versus older here Aug. 3.

Round four of the head-to-head battle between Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and Mullikin (Violence) is set for the GI Forego Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' Challenge event for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

An argument can be made that the New Jersey-bred Book'em Danno is the best sprinter currently in training, as he convincingly defeated Mullikin–victorious here last August–in a sloppy renewal of the GIII True North Stakes on June 7 and again in the GII A.G. Vanderbilt Stakes July 19. His most recently piece of work does not appear in his past performances, but trainer Derek Ryan says the gelding is ready for the task.

“We blew him out three-eighths out of the gate to sharpen him up. He's good to go,” Ryan said. “He likes the distance; he likes the track. He'd been training awfully good, and he seems to run for [jockey] Paco [Lopez]. He's 3-for-4 at Saratoga now. I just want them to get position and go from there.”

Fan favorite Book'em Danno and trainer Derek Ryan back at the barn | Sarah Andrew

Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of last year's GIII Oklahoma Derby, is an intriguing fresh face and the half-brother to 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) returns to this seven-furlong trip for the first time since winning his maiden by a neck at first asking last June.

Thorpedo Anna is clearly the headliner in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but she has looked vulnerable at times this season and may have to improve to take her local record to three-from-four, having just been defeated in last year's Travers.

“She's ultra-consistent. She loves her work, she's very happy in Saratoga, and has been for a long time,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “As always, she's been a pleasure to be around. She's doing great.”

Raging Sea (Curlin) took down the colors of champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in this race 12 months ago, but she has also been in suspect form, including a third to 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) in the GII Shuvee Stakes July 18. Fourth after a troubled start last year, Randomized (Nyquist) wired the field in the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes last time and has speed to lead, but loses Flavien Prat to the defending champ.

Speaking of Close Hatches again, her 'TDN Rising Star' daughter Scylla (Tapit) is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in what feels a very open renewal of the GI Ballerina Stakes given the absence–via illness–of 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke). A guaranteed berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is on the line.

Though she is a two-time graded winner going long, the homebred has never been able to get over the hump at the graded level around one turn, including a runner-up effort in this event last summer and a latest third to Halina's Forte (Mitole) in the GII Honorable Miss Stakes July 20. Hope Road (Quality Road), a daughter of 2018 Ballerina heroine Marley's Freedom (Blame), ran races in defeat to Kopion (Omaha Beach) in the GII Santa Monica Stakes and GI Derby City Distaff that would win this, but she was very disappointing when only third in the GIII Winning Colors Stakes May 26. Brightwork (Outwork) is three-for-three at the Spa, but is winless since a narrow victory in the GIII Prioress Stakes just under a year ago.

Minnesota-bred Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) is the 2-1 favorite to give Chad Brown his fifth straight win in the GII Lake Placid Stakes, but she certainly does not lay over a field that includes GSW & GISP May Day Ready (Tapit) and Eponine (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Group 2-placed in France this season and having her first start for Repole Stable.

Thorpedo Anna | Sarah Andrew

Plenty To Play For In Pat O'Brien

With horses returning off extended layoffs and class horses cutting back in distance, Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien Stakes, which offers the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, is a true handicapping puzzle.

Stronghold (Ghostzapper) won the 2024 GI Santa Anita Derby and was runner-up in his final three starts as a 3-year-old, including the GI Pennsylvania Derby last September and when behind future G2 Godolphin Mile and GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the GI Malibu Stakes going this seven-furlong distance Dec. 26. The homebred has just one start since, a distant 10th in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes back on Jan. 25.

Express Train (Union Rags), runner-up to Charlatan (Speightstown) in the 2020 Malibu and winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap in 2022, makes just the fifth start of his career around one turn in the O'Brien and first since finishing third to The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the 2024 Kona Gold Stakes. He drops in trip off a well-beaten fifth to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Pacific Classic-bound Nysos (Nyquist) in the GII San Diego Handicap July 26.

Bob Baffert won the Pat O'Brien for the first time a quarter-century ago with Love That Red and has sent out the winner seven times since. The fleet-footed Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), who earned a 104 Beyer when graduating at first asking over this track in 2022, took out the 2023 Malibu and was not seen again until the May 1 St. Mathews Overnight Stakes at Churchill, when eased home for all intents and purposes. Juan Hernandez ends up there, while Kazushi Kimura is named on 'TDN Rising Star' Maymun (Frosted), a 7 1/2-length maiden winner at first asking in January 2024 and unraced since a battling neck success going a mile at Santa Anita the following month.

Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) was fractionally unlucky when finishing runner-up in the GIII Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill June 28, but there were no apparent excuses in his last, an even fourth in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes here on July 26. With Antonio Fresu sticking with Stronghold, fellow Italian Umberto Rispoli picks up the ride.

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