Aqueduct: Mott says Emollient pointed for Black-Eyed Susan

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Mott said Emollient, winner of the Ashland Stakes, will skip the Kentucky Oaks and most likely point to the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 17.

Emollient had run two races in seven days, finishing a well-beaten fourth behind Dreaming of Julia in the Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30 before coming back seven days later to win the Ashland at Keeneland by nine.

Asked if the timing – the Oaks would be three races in five weeks for Emollient – was the reason he chose to skip the race, Mott said “that’d be part of it.”

Meanwhile, Mott said that Royal Delta, his champion mare, is doing well at Belmont following her disappointing performance in the Dubai World Cup.

“Once we put the tack back on her, she woke up,” Mott said.

Mott has not mapped out a schedule for Royal Delta, but last year she returned in June to win the Fleur de Lis at Churchill.