Resilience trains ahead of the Kentucky Derby (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino-winner Resilience is possible to make his next start in the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
Owned by Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman, the Into Mischief colt made the grade with a 2 1/4-length score over Society Man in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial to earn his way into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Mott said he will make a final decision after Resilience works this weekend at Saratoga.
“We’ve got some discussions to have with the owners but we’re giving it strong consideration,” Mott said. “We’re going to work on the weekend and once he breezes we’ll know what we’re going to do.”
Resilience exited post 18-of-20 in the Derby and pounced from 5 1/4 lengths off the pace to be a half-length off the lead at the three-quarters call, but faded in the stretch and was defeated 7 3/4 lengths by the victorious Mystik Dan.
Mott said he was pleased with the way Resilience worked back a half-mile Monday over the Oklahoma training track in 50.45 seconds.
“We’re considering running, so he’s doing good. He’s doing real well,” Mott said.
Bred in Kentucky by Pam Wygod and the late Marty Wygod, Resilience is out of the winning Smart Strike mare Meadowsweet, who is a half-sister to the Grade 1 and multiple graded stakes-winning Storm Cat turfers Courageous Cat and After Market – all three are out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Rahy mare Tranquility Lake. Jalil, a Group 2-winner on dirt, is also by Storm Cat and out of Tranquility Lake.
Mott watched George Krikorian’s multiple Grade 1-winner War Like Goddess work a half-mile in 50.65 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 New York, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares on June 7 here.
“I was happy with her work this morning,” Mott said.
Mott also said he was pleased with Krikorian’s Kentucky homebred Just F Y I, the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, who went a bullet five-eighths in 1:01.20 over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 DK Horse Acorn, a nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies on June 7 Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.