Mott has Grade 1 plans for Speaker's Corner, Forza Di Oro
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott has finalized plans for several of his recent winners, including the 3-year-old Speaker’s Corner, who will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 25.
Speaker’s Corner came off a 10-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race by 5 1/4 lengths going seven furlongs on Aug. 14. Mott has been keen to stretch the horse out to 1 1/8 miles, something he will do against the likes of Hot Rod Charlie, First Captain, Weyburn, and perhaps Medina Spirit in the Pennsylvania Derby.
“We need to find out, but I feel fairly comfortable that he should do it based on the pedigree and the way he trains,” Mott said.
Forza Di Oro, who won a third-level allowance off an eight-month layoff here on July 21, is on target for the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 4.
Forza Di Oro, a 4-year-old son of Speightstown, has won three consecutive races, including last November’s Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct. Forza Di Oro has worked twice since his allowance win and will likely work again this weekend.
“We haven’t had any setbacks since the last race,” Mott said.
Art Collector, who won the Alydar Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths here on Aug. 6 in his first start for Mott, is scheduled to run in Friday’s $800,000 Charles Town Classic. Mott noted that the race might be quick back from his allowance score, but works out timing-wise to the Grade 1 Woodward at Belmont Park on Oct. 2.
Art Collector is a three-time stakes winner with only a Grade 1 missing from his résumé.
Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Art Collector at Charles Town. He will ride the Friday card at Saratoga and then take a private plane to West Virginia. Post time for the Charles Town Classic is 10:18 p.m.
Mott plans to return Harvey’s Lil Goil to dirt in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga. Harvey’s Lil Goil has not raced on dirt since she finished third in the Grade 1 Alabama here last August.
She won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II on turf at Keeneland last October before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. This year, she is 1 for 3, with the victory coming in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont in May.
“We’re going to try it one time,” Mott said.
Mott said he’s running there to see if Harvey’s Lil Goil might be a viable candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Mott said he doesn’t like the idea of running her in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, which this year will be run at 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar. It was run at 1 3/16 miles last year when at Keeneland.