Mott on a roll with maidens

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Mott has been on a roll of late, sending out a trio of 3-year-old maiden winners within an eight-day span, topped by Hofburg’s half length triumph going a 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.

Hofburg is by Tapit and a half-brother to the four-time Grade 1 winner Emollient. His victory came in just his second start and first since September at Saratoga. It was also his first start around two turns and first with Lasix. Hofburg accomplished the feat despite breaking from the outside post in an 11-horse field, a significant disadvatange in 1 1/16-mile races over the Gulfstream Park main track.

Mott’s other recent maiden winners were Penalty, by Blame, a seven-furlong debut winner on Feb. 24, and Show Me the Bucks, a son of Tiz Wonderful who captured his 6 1/2-furlong debut by a head on Sunday.

◗ A carryover of just under $3 million in the Rainbow 6 pool will be waiting when racing resumes on Wednesday with a 10-race program topped by a statebred allowance and optional-claiming event for fillies and mares carded at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Wednesday marks the first day of a 10 percent increase in overnight purses.