Unifying can give Riley Mott first local win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Riley Mott is part of a new generation of horsemen at Oaklawn Park. The quality of his stable will be on display Friday when Unifying starts as the potential favorite in the track’s featured eighth race.

The first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles could produce starters for upcoming stakes. A field of nine is set to start in the $104,000 race, including impressive maiden winner Dear Lady. Trainer Kenny McPeek said Dear Lady would have advanced to the Martha Washington at Oaklawn if Friday’s race had not gone. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78 for her maiden win, the best career number in Friday’s race.

Mott, 31, is the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. He went out on his own Nov. 1 and will be seeking his first Oaklawn win Friday, less than a week after jockey Keith James Asmussen, a son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, won his first Oaklawn race.

Unifying is returning to the overnight ranks after running second in the $150,000 Year’s End Stakes on Dec. 31 at Oaklawn. She entered that race off a maiden special weight sprint win Nov. 10 at Churchill Downs – Mott’s first career win as a trainer.

In the one-mile Year’s End, Unifying set the pace from her inside post and finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Defining Purpose, a McPeek trainee being pointed to the Martha Washington. Mott was pleased with Unifying’s effort.

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“We were asking multiple questions of her, one being two turns for the first time, the other being stakes company for the first time,” he said. “So, we kind of threw her a curveball and she ran really well and answered the distance question and showed her class, as well.

“She bounced back really well from the race, had a breeze already since then, and looks like she may be taking a step or two forward. We thought this was a good spot.”

Unifying is a daughter of Union Rags owned by Sheri Greenberg, Staghawk Stables, Tom Reiman, and Ronald Johnson. She could get a tracking trip off the stakes-placed Towhead, who breaks from the rail, and sprint-to-route prospect Dear Lady.

Unifying will break from post 9 under Ricardo Santana Jr.

“She’s been on the lead the last couple of times, but she doesn’t necessarily need to be on the lead,” Mott said. “She’s pretty rateable. She’s just an easy horse to deal with.”

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Unifying is one of 25 horses Mott has brought to Oaklawn.

“I had the support of some local people that love to race here,” he said. “Folks have been extremely welcoming. It’s just a great horse racing community.”

Mott was born in Hollywood, Fla., and said for the foreseeable future he plans to be based in the Midwest, particularly Kentucky. He’s had nine starters at the current meet, with two seconds and three thirds. Mott has saddled runners in a number of high-end races at Oaklawn.

“We have some nice-looking young horses,” he said.

Mott also will be active in Friday’s first race with American Tattoo.

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