Mott may send Golden Award, Hidden Scroll to Oaklawn

Trainer Bill Mott is considering sending at least two horses to Oaklawn Park for stakes on April 18.

Golden Award, most recently second in the Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream Park, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, while Hidden Scroll, a 12 1/2-length winner of a first-level allowance on March 1, could join her for the Grade 3, $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap the same day.

Last year, Golden Award won the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga and the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct. In between, she was pulled up in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. Golden Award has fired two bullet works at Payson Park, including a five-furlong move in 1:01.40 on Sunday.

“She worked very well, very impressive,” Mott said.

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Hidden Scroll was originally being pointed to the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 4 at Aqueduct, but that card was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Count Fleet is Plan B.

Mott is contemplating sending horses to Oaklawn for other stakes later in the meet, but is less committal about doing that. Harvey’s Lil Goil, winner of the Busanda Stakes on Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, and Lake Avenue, third in the Gulfstream Oaks, could go to the Grade 3 Fantasy on May 1.

Mott hasn’t totally ruled out the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap for Tacitus, who is stabled at Belmont Park after returning from Dubai following the cancellation of the March 28 World Cup at Meydan.

Mott is leery of gearing Tactitus back up for a race in the event the Oaklawn meet gets shut down before closing weekend. Mott said Tacitus may return to the work tab at Belmont this weekend.