Mott to run Timeout in Curlin, Batten Down in Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With his Triple Crown participant Resilience sidelined until at least the fall, trainer Bill Mott is turning to some other 3-year-olds in his barn he hopes can get him to the Travers Stakes next month.

Batten Down, winner of the Grade 2 Ohio Derby in June, is targeting the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes here on July 27.

Timeout, who got his maiden victory on June 15 at Aqueduct, was one of six 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes, a listed stakes for 3-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes at a mile or over this year.

Timeout, a son of Curlin, has been a work in progress. He finished second first time out going seven furlongs at Keeneland in April before running third in a one-mile race in May at Churchill Downs. In his first try at 1 1/8 miles and around two turns, Timeout won by a head over Military Road.

“The first race he was extra green, the second race he was a little green and the added distance didn’t hurt and the blinkers didn’t hurt,” said Mott, who has won the Curlin twice, including last year with Scotland.

Timeout worked Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in company with Whitney-bound Arthur’s Ride. Timeout was timed for five furlongs in 1:01.60.

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Unmatched Wisdom, an impressive winner of both of his starts, will be favored in the Curlin for trainer Chad Brown. He will break from the rail under Flavien Prat.

Corporate Power was a nose winner over Gould’s Gold in the restricted Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on May 18. Corporate Power will break from post 2 in the Curlin.

Catire Vizcaya will leave from post 3 followed by Timeout, Elephant’s Ear, and Django.

Elephant’s Ear and Django worked five furlongs together in 59.80 seconds Saturday morning over the Oklahoma training track. Both horses, trained by Kenny McPeek, are coming off wins going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill. Elephant’s Ear won a first-level allowance race on June 30 while Django, in his 10th career start, won his first race on June 15.

Mott said Resilience, who won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby and 10th in the Belmont Stakes, has been turned out for a few months. He is likely being pointed to a 4-year-old campaign.

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