Mott shortens up razor-sharp Scylla in Ballerina
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Scylla, coming off two graded stakes wins around two turns and a second to Adare Manor in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch on Aug. 3 at Del Mar, was a surprise entrant in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap.
Despite Scylla’s victories in the Grade 3 Shawnee and Grade 2 Fleur de Lis – both two-turn races at Churchill Downs – trainer Bill Mott noted that Scylla is 3 for 4 with a neck defeat to Beth’s Dream in one-turn races. Scylla, out of the Grade 1-winning two-turn mare Close Hatches, is a full sister to graded winners Tacitus and Batten Down. The latter is running in Saturday’s Travers.
“I’m very interested in trying her back at one turn,” Mott said. “For me, I’ve kind of felt like the one turn is preferred, and that’s just my gut feeling, I don’t know that I’m right. I wanted to give it a shot and I know I am taking a big shot coming back in three weeks, I realize that. If it doesn’t work out then I just suffer the consequences.”
Scylla is owned by Juddmonte, which also owns Idiomatic, the defending Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and reigning older dirt female champion.
Mott said a good performance by Scylla in the Ballerina could open the possibility of running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November.