Mott turns focus to Just F Y I's return in Davona Dale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – While trainer Bill Mott has some big shoes to fill in his barn this season with the retirement of Cody’s Wish and Elite Power, there is still plenty for the Hall of Fame horseman to smile at when looking down his shed row each morning at Payson Park. Not the least of that group is the reigning 2-year-old filly champion Just F Y I, who is slated to launch her 3-year-old campaign here next Saturday in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

Just F Y I was perfect in three starts a year ago, cementing her Eclipse Award with a neck decision over Jody’s Pride in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. Mott gave her some time off to recuperate from the effort before getting her back on the work tab in mid-January, with the Kentucky Oaks obviously the first major goal on the schedule during the spring.

“You give them a little time off, then all of a sudden you look at the calendar and say, ‘I better get going,’ because the clock is ticking and all of a sudden these races are right on top of you,” said Mott. “I’ve still got to get another work in her, but right now we’re leaning towards the Davona Dale. You’ve got to get started somewhere and I’m just hoping she’s got enough in her to get started there.

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“I lost a week or 10 days and missed a work with her earlier this winter after she developed a little skin issue. But she’s had four works since then and they’ve all been quite good.”

Mott said he was uncertain who Just F Y I might be facing when she returns next week, although he was a bit relieved to hear there probably will not be a rematch, at least not just yet, with Jody’s Pride, who was nominated to the Davona Dale but shipped up to New York earlier this week to likely make her 3-year-old bow in the Busher at Aqueduct.

“There’s going to be some tough races down the road, so you’re hoping the first one is not the toughest one,” Mott said.

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Mott also has another talented and very promising filly in his barn, the 4-year-old Socially Selective, who is now 2 for 2 during the Championship meet after drawing off to a very popular allowance victory here Wednesday. Socially Selective, a daughter of Speightster who was stakes-placed a year ago, returned from nearly a nine-month hiatus to capture her 2023 debut by seven lengths last month.

“She’s been a nice filly all along. We liked her right from the beginning,” said Mott. “We had some setbacks with her early on, after she broke her maiden, and it’s just taken a little time to get her back. And it’s really nice to finally see her back on tap.

“I think six and seven furlongs is going to be her game and hopefully she’s got a date with a stakes race somewhere down the road.”

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