Emollient, a three-time grade I winner last year for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, makes her first start of the 2014 season in the $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf at Santa Anita Park March 16.
Don't Tell Sophia has sailed through the early part of 2014, but faces a stout test March 15 in the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) against multiple grade I winner Close Hatches, On Fire Baby, and Flashy American.
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Riposte heads a field of nine in pursuit of her first graded stakes victory stateside in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Lea opened a big lead off the final turn and turned back the late charge of 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge to capture the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) in track-record time Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.
Amira's Prince attempts to extend his U.S. unbeaten streak to five when he comes off a 10-month layoff in $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 9.
Although she hasn't run since Oct. 5 and hasn't won since June 20, Juddmonte Farms' Riposte looks to have a decisive class edge over her seven opponents in the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 8 at Gulfstream.
Todd Pletcher's deep bench of top quality runners sometimes make it difficult to gauge his accomplishments when compared to those of other trainers. But in 2013, he was in a league of his own.
Superstar mare Royal Delta easily dominated the older female division and notched her third straight Eclipse Award by virtue of three impressive graded stakes victories last year, one of which was grade I.
In the older female Eclipse Award category, two-time champion Royal Delta is the standout finalist, while other impressive mares Joyful Victory and Tiz Miz Sue attempt to make a case with their 2013 grade I accomplishments.
Perhaps no Eclipse Award category overflowed with more talent than among the 3-year-old fillies of 2013. They performed admirably against each other and then went out and defeated the best of their older counterparts.
Voters brought out the heavyweights for the 2013 Outstanding Trainer category, with finalists Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert, and Bill Mott combining for 11 previous Eclipse Awards.
Lea shook off pacesetter Csaba in early stretch and comfortably held back runner-up Jackson Bend as he romped clear to win the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 11 at Gulfstream Park.
Highlights from the career of dual champion Royal Delta. view slideshow
Three-time grade I winner Flat Out has been retired, owner Art Preston confirmed. Stallion plans are pending.
Millions Turf Preview Stakes winner Bad Debt shares co-highweight assignment with Philly Ace in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 7 at Calder, a race Philly Ace won in 2012 in his last start.
Preston Stables' hard-knocking Flat Out took the overland route to victory Nov. 30 in the Cigar Mile (gr. I), a race worth $753,000 due to the winner's previous grade I-winning status.
The connections of two-time champion Royal Delta have announced that the 5-year-old daughter of Empire Maker has been retired and will be bred to Galileo.
Multiple grade I winner Ron the Greek, who blew away the field by 6 3/4 lengths in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (gr. I) in his most recent start, has been sold to an undisclosed buyer overseas.
Ron the Greek has developed a quarter crack in his right front hoof and will miss the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Bill Mott discusses Ron the Greek's injury and his scratch from the Breeders' Cup Classic. watch video
Bill Mott returns to the Breeders' Cup Classic with 6-year-old Ron the Greek and 7-year-old Flat Out. read blog
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott oversaw Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contenders Royal Delta and Close Hatches as they stretched their legs at Santa Anita on Oct. 29 after arriving from New York the day before.
Trainer Bill Mott said he was happy with the final works by Royal Delta and Close Hatches at Belmont Park Oct. 26 before they head to California for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Joshua Tree, winner of the 2012 and 2010 editions of the $1 million Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) and second in the 2011 running, looks to defend his title in the Oct. 27 Woodbine event against 10 other invaders.
Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, and Bill Mott each will saddle two horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park, with Baffert sending out likely favorite Game On Dude.
Preferential, a disappointment for Juddmonte Farms since her arrival in the United States this spring, registered her first stateside victory in the $125,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes Oct. 20 on the Keeneland turf.
Led by champion Royal Delta and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Ron the Greek, horses conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott got in their Belmont Park works Oct. 19 in advance of the Nov. 1-2 Breeders' Cup.
A smashing winner of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) this spring, favored Emollient returned to Keeneland Oct. 6 to capture the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) in another dazzling effort.
Emollient will face her elders as one of 11 entered for the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. Others include grade I winners On Fire Baby and Byrama, and grade II winner Summer Applause.
The first three finishers in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) are headed for a rematch in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park, their trainers indicated on the morning of Sept. 29.
Ron the Greek picked a perfect time to snap out of a lengthy slump when he demolished the field in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) in a 21-1 upset Sept. 28 at Belmont Park.
Seven-year-old faces Cross Traffic and star 3-year-olds Orb and Palace Malice in $1 million event at 1 1/4 miles Sept. 28 at Belmont Park.
Champion Royal Delta looks to defend her status as the racing world's star female against the brilliant 3-year-old Princess of Sylmar Sept. 28 in the $400,000 Beldame (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Champion Royal Delta wrapped up serious preparation for defense of her Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) win with a four-furlong breeze Sept. 23 at Belmont Park.
As so often is the case as summer turns to fall, Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has a stable of Thoroughbreds moving in the right direction.
After being purchased privately for a lofty but undisclosed sum, Sky Girl provided new owner John Clay's Alpha Delta Stables with a quick return on investment in the $110,000 Dogwood Stakes Sept. 21 at Churchill Downs.
Close Hatches secured a second straight grade I victory Sept. 21 when she passed Test Stakes (gr. I) winner Sweet Lulu turning for home and held off all challengers in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I).
Grade I winners Sweet Lulu and Close Hatches will meet on the track for the first time when an accomplished group of 3-year-old fillies starts in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.
The Sept. 14 Garden City Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park offers bettors an interesting dilemma, with talented grade I winners facing a grade I-placed French import and the one-two finishers of the grade II Lake Placid Stakes.
Grade I winner and international stallion Geri has been permanently pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement center near Georgetown, Ky.
Emollient, a grade I winner in her first try on turf when she annexed the American Oaks this summer, will look to add another in the $500,000 Garden City Stakes Sept. 14 at Belmont Park.
While champion Royal Delta is wrapping up her 2013 campaign with planned starts in the Beldame Invitational and Breeders' Cup Distaff (both gr. I), her connections are considering her future as a broodmare.
Named for Racing Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, the Saratoga championship will be the fourth in a row and ninth in 12 years for Pletcher, who first won in 1998.
After a powerful victory in the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign (gr. I) at Saratoga, Royal Delta will prepare for $400,000 Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 28 at Belmont Park.
Besilu Stables' two-time champion Royal Delta continued on her path toward a third crown with an easy victory in the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 25.
Champion mare Royal Delta is the class of a small group entered in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 25 at Saratoga, but as we saw last year in this event, sometimes even class gets beat.
Second and third in the July 24 Lake George Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga, Watsdachances and Tapicat will rematch Aug. 18 in the $200,000 Woodford Reserve Lake Placid (gr. IIT).
Don Dulce and Dance to Bristol in spotlight on Bill Mott's birthday. read blog
Two-time champion Royal Delta, who put it all together in an overpowering victory in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. I), makes her next stop in the Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) at Saratoga, trainer Bill Mott said.
Racing without Lasix in search of a return to dominant form, Besilu Stable's champion mare Royal Delta cruised to victory by 10 3/4 lengths in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. I) July 20 at Delaware Park.
