Mott ready to prove himself in Holy Bull, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Riley Mott followed in the footsteps of his father Bill Mott while pursuing a career as a thoroughbred trainer and is currently working on following the Hall of Famer into the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner’s circle with Pin Oak Stud LLC’s Incredibolt.
The younger Mott, whose father saddled 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty for a victory in last year’s first jewel of the Triple Crown, will take a significant step on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where he will saddle Incredibolt for a start in the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3).
The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, a key prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream, will headline a 12-race program with five stakes for 3-year-olds.
Riley Mott already followed his father’s lead when he visited the Churchill Downs winner’s circle Oct. 26 after saddling Incredibolt for a victory in the Street Sense (G3), a race won by Sovereignty a year earlier at the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull distance. The son of Bolt d’Oro rallied from seventh in the Street Sense before drawing clear by 1 ¾ lengths.
“The two-turn question is a big question. He’s answered that. He’s won at Churchill Downs, which is a positive for sure,” Mott said. “He’s out of an Awesome Again mare, which just screams distance. We’re hopeful and excited to have him in the barn.”
Incredibolt, who raced evenly to finish fourth following a wide trip in his six-furlong career debut at Ellis Park Aug. 22, graduated in his second start a month later in a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs, where he closely stalked the pace before drawing off by two lengths. He went on to win his stakes debut in the Street Sense in his next start to conclude his juvenile campaign.
“He’s done very well this winter, wintering down here in Florida. He had a pretty productive 2-year-old year, breaking his maiden and winning the Street Sense Stakes,” Mott said. “We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here. He hasn’t missed a beat.”
Incredibolt, rated third at 9-2 on the morning line, has produced a strong series of six workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
Jaime Torres, who rode Incredibolt in all three of his starts, has the return call for the Holy Bull, in which they will break from the rail post position.
Centennial Farms’ Nearly, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, will make his first start around two turns in the Holy Bull winning two recent sprints at Gulfstream in dominating fashion.
“Everything to us indicates that [two turns] should be to his advantage,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He’s always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he’s got the pedigree to do it, so we’re excited about stretching him out.”
The son of Not This Time finished a disappointing sixth and last in his Oct. 26 career debut at Aqueduct but has blossomed since shipping south. He defeated fellow Florida-breds by 9 ¼ lengths at six furlongs Nov. 22 at Gulfstream, where he returned Jan. 2 to defeat open company at seven furlongs by five going-away lengths.
“He’s been doing great. His two runs at Gulfstream have been what we were hoping for,” Pletcher said. “We were perplexed with his debut where he was very green and didn’t run as well as we thought he would. But he’s backed that up with two impressive performances and I like the way he’s been training coming into this.”
Pletcher, who saddled Audible for victories in the Holy Bull and Florida Derby in 2018, has awarded the return mount aboard Nearly to Hall of Famer John Velazquez.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled hard-knocking Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio for a thrilling 1-2 finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream last Saturday, will be represented by up-and-coming Bravaro in the Holy Bull. The son of Upstart, who is owned by Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stable LLC, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman, is undefeated in two starts, both achieved against fellow New York-breds at Aqueduct.
Bravaro won his six-furlong debut Sept. 26 by a length before capturing the one-turn mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes by 2 ½ lengths Oct. 25. He rallied from well off the pace in both victories.
“He’s won his two races well and he’s worked very good,” said Joseph, who saddled White Abarrio for victories in the 2022 Holy Bull and Curlin Florida Derby. “He’s never gone two turns yet, but he acts like he can do it in good order.”
Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Skippylongstocking to victory in the Pegasus World Cup, is slated to ride Bravaro for the first time.
St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Cannoneer will make his 2026 debut in the Holy Bull while trying two turns for the first time.
The son of Into Mischief, who debuted with a disappointing third-place finish as the odds-on favorite last June at Churchill, returned from a six-month layoff to break his maiden by 7 ¼ lengths Nov. 29 going seven furlongs at the Louisville, KY track.
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount aboard the Brad Cox trainee, who is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line.
Albaugh Family Stables LLC’s Project Ace will enter the Holy Bull off a pair of strong efforts at 1 1/16 miles that followed a third-place finish at seven furlongs in his Sept. 18 debut at Churchill Downs. Stretching out around two turns for the first time, the son of War of Will rallied from far back to miss by a nose in a Keeneland maiden race a month later. The Dale Romans trainee graduated in his next outing at Churchill Nov. 15 with a late-rallying score by a head.
Corey Lanerie has the return mount on Project Ace.
Smith Ranch Stables’ Roger That Dana, who finished second in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 3 at Gulfstream, and Special Aviators LLC’s Global Aviator, who is coming off a rallying victory in his six-furlong debut at Gulfstream, round out the field of expected starters.
Bob Baffert-trained Buetane was entered in the Holy Bull but will not run due to a flight cancellation. Chad Summer’s Game for It was also an entrant but isn’t expected to go to post.
