Gezora's turf work pleases Mott
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bill Mott isn’t sure why Gezora ran so poorly last month in the Grade 1 New York Stakes, where she finished eighth, but the trainer was heartened by the way last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner worked Friday morning in preparation for a planned start in the Grade 2 Glens Falls on July 30.
Gezora worked five furlongs on the Oklahoma turf course in 1:01.21, getting her final quarter-mile in 23.68 seconds under jockey Junior Alvarado. She proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:13.46 and seven furlongs in 1:26.75.
“That’s racehorse time,” Mott said. “I breezed her a couple of times on the dirt, but this is the first time I breezed her on the grass, and she looked really good.”
Gezora won last year’s BC Filly and Mare Turf by a half-length over She Feels Pretty. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard then, Gezora was turned over to Chad Brown by owner Peter Brant. After Gezora finished second in the Grade 3 Modesty, Brant moved Gezora to Mott for the New York Stakes.