SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sovereignty is not the only Grade 1-winning horse trainer Bill Mott will be running on Saturday’s card at Saratoga.
Arthur’s Ride, winner of last summer’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes here, returns from a nine-month layoff in a multi-conditioned allowance going 1 1/8 miles in race 4 on Saturday’s 12-race card. It will be Arthur’s Ride’s first race since he finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Mott said he tried bringing back Arthur’s Ride early in the winter, but the horse wasn’t moving well so he got turned out for 60 to 90 days. Arthur’s Ride got back on the work tab in late April at Payson Park before moving to Saratoga in early May. Arthur’s Ride has 10 workouts – some in company with Sovereignty – leading to his return.
“We got plenty of work in him. He’s not a real good work horse, he only does what he has to do or what you make him do. That’s been him throughout his career,” Mott said. “I think when he was real good last year maybe his works were just a little bit better, but he’s got enough in him. He’s fit enough, I’m not concerned about that. It’s just whether if he’s sharp enough and ready to give us a good race.”
If Arthur’s Ride does give Mott a good race, he would likely point him to the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31.
Others in the race include Trademark, who won the Grade 2 Clark at Churchill Downs in November 2023, won his first race since then at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 8. That race was at one mile.
Film Star, who ran solid two back in a race similar to this, has a history of running a good race after a bad one. He was beaten 13 3/4 lengths last out here.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has the uncoupled pair of Strapped and Kuchar, while Rick Dutrow sends out Big Blue Line, first off the $75,000 claim in a win at this distance.
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