Mighty Mo is on the way

ELMONT, N.Y. - It had been a tough start to the Belmont spring/summer meet for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott before Bibbo ended an 0-for-24 skid by winning Thursday’s seventh race.

“Maybe we just need a compass to guide us to the winner’s circle,” Mott, his sense of humor still intact, said earlier Thursday when discussing his barn’s frustrations, which included eight seconds and six thirds in New York since April.

Now that Mott has re-discovered the winner’s circle, he hopes to become a more frequent visitor, especially in Saturday’s $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes, where he sends out morning-line favorite Mighty Mo.

Mighty Mo is turning back to seven furlongs in the Paradise Creek after leading all the way before getting beat a neck by Highland Sky in the Woodhaven Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct on April 23. Mighty Mo won a maiden race going 7 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream.

“I think he’s pretty effective at that [shorter] trip,” Mott said. “He seems to have some speed. I think it’ll be an okay distance for him. I’m not convinced he’s not going to go further.”

“I think he’s pretty effective at that [shorter] trip,” Mott said. “He seems to have some speed. I think it’ll be an okay distance for him. I’m not convinced he’s not going to go further.”

Mighty Mo drew the outside post in a six-horse field in the Paradise Creek. Under John Velazquez, he’ll likely take up a stalking position just off Conquest See Ya.

Conquest See Ya, a son of Adios Charlie, won his turf debut here April 30 in a six-furlong maiden race. He pressed a hot early pace of 44.25 seconds for the half-mile, then held off Drop Shot to win by three-quarters of a length. Conquest See Ya, who wore blinkers for the first time in that race, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

According to Randi Melton, the New York assistant to trainer Mark Casse, it was David Adams, the Woodbine assistant, who recommended blinkers for Conquest See Ya. Melton said Conquest See Ya “seemed like a different animal,” with them on.

Too Discreet, who won the Schenectady Stakes last summer at Saratoga, also cuts back in distance after running fourth in the Woodhaven.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mighty Mo, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-64

◗ Has run two good races for Mott, at Gulfstream and the narrow loss to the promising Highland Sky in the Woodhaven Stakes.

◗ Gets a rider switch to Velazquez, who is 11 for 44 for Mott over the last 17 months.

Conquest See Ya, by Adios Charlie

Beyers: 87-68

◗ Ran a very fast six furlongs in 1:07.52 in winning April 30.

“He seems to have matured mentally and physically since the last race,” said Melton.

◗ He is likely to try to wire this field from the rail.

Too Discreet, by Discreet Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 79-59-66

◗ Won two races in three weeks at Saratoga last summer, including the Schenectady Stakes.

◗ Came off the bench and tried 1 1/16 miles in the Woodhaven and was beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

“I thought he ran okay, just got a bit tired,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “He was not beat that far. He needed the race. He’s trained very well since.”