SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In dual classic winner Sovereignty, Bill Mott has the top 3-year-old in the division. In Stars and Stripes, he has a 3-year-old seemingly on the rise.
Stars and Stripes, a son of Not This Time, won his second straight race by a blowout margin when he took a first-level allowance by 7 1/4 lengths here on Thursday. That followed a 10 1/2-length maiden score at Aqueduct in the slop on June 15.
Unlike his maiden win, Stars and Stripes came from seven lengths back on Thursday and was caked in dirt when he returned to be unsaddled.
“He got some education, ate some dirt, he was covered up all the way down the backside and around the turn,” Mott said. “When he tipped him out, he came on and ran straight, so it was good.”
Stars and Stripes ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.22 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
Mott said he would consider a stakes race next for Stars and Stripes, though it’s unclear where and when that will be. The $200,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Aug. 19 at Parx is run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns.