Barn Notes

December 14, 2007 --

Headlines for Friday, December 14, 2007

· Mott Back at Fair Grounds, Eyes Sugar Bowl Stakes for Saada

· Emma-Jayne Readies for Fair Grounds Return

· Save Big Money Gets a Price in Saturday’s Diliberto

 

Mott Back at Fair Grounds, Eyes Sugar Bowl Stakes for Saada

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Two decades have passed since Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott raced a string at Fair Grounds for an entire season, but he’s represented again this winter, and with that in mind he was in town last weekend to check on his New Orleans-based division.

“I guess the last time I was here for the season would have been 1986,” said Mott last Sunday as he watched morning training along the fence on the far turn. “That’s because I remember I went to New York for the first time in 1987.”

For Mott, there has been a lot of water under the bridge of his career since that time – capped by his induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga in 1998 as the youngest trainer to date accorded that honor.

Also, there was Mott’s back-to-back Eclipse Awards as North America’s top trainer in 1995 and 1996, and there was also Mott’s guidance of the champion Cigar to 1995 and 1996 Horse of the Year honors.

However, Mott is also recognized for his tutelage of Escena to 1998 top older filly or mare honors; his guidance of Ajina to top 3-year-old filly honors in 1997, and his campaign of Paradise Creek to top male turf horse honors in 1994 and Theatrical to those same honors in 1987.

Last but not least, Mott has also been inducted into Fair Grounds Hall of Fame since his last season-long campaign in New Orleans.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the Fair Grounds ceremonies because I had a lot of things going on at that time,” said Mott Sunday. “I really didn’t have a chance to appreciate how much of an honor it was until things settled down a little later.”

That being said, Mott did get back in town in time to watch Desert Wheat finish third as the odds-on favorite in the Louisiana Champions Day Turf last Saturday.

“That race … didn’t set up very well for him,” said Mott of the lack of speed in this year’s Turf. “Also, we were running him back a little quick (since Nov. 22). He generally needs a little more time between his races. We were aware of that going in, but that was the way the schedule came up for us.”

With racing strings scattered over several circuits, Mott was asked which ones might be coming to Louisiana to contest the series leading up to the Grade II Louisiana Derby March 8.

“Right now, we’re looking at the Sugar Bowl (Stakes for 2-year-olds Dec. 22) for a horse we have named Saada,” Mott said, “and we’ll see how he does and where we might go with him after that.”

Saada, owned by the Zayat Stables of leading North American stakes-winning owner Ahmed Zayat, is a son of 1995 Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Thunder Gulch. Saada broke his maiden last Sept. 1 at Saratoga and finished second in his last start Nov. 16, beaten two lengths when second in a first level allowance race at Aqueduct when going the Sugar Bowl distance of six furlongs.

“I’ve also got some 2-year-olds in Florida right now,” Mott concluded, “so we’ll see which ones might be getting ready in time to make some of the (3-year-old) races here (at Fair Grounds) a little later this season.”

 

Emma-Jayne Readies for Fair Grounds Return

What a year jockey 2005 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson has had since she left Fair Grounds last spring.

In June, she rode Mike Fox to a half-length win in Woodbine’s Grade I Queen’s Plate, becoming the first female jockey to win Canada’s equivalent of the Kentucky Derby in what was its 148th renewal.

Then, earlier this month, she flew to the Orient to become the first female invited to compete in the Hong Kong Jockey Challenge.

Having just arrived back in Toronto, she will attend Friday night’s Sovereign Awards – Canada’s version of the Eclipse Awards – where she is a finalist as Canada’s champion jockey this season.

“Patrick Husbands had a really amazing season and he would be a deserving winner,” Wilson said of her chances for her second Sovereign Award, “but maybe winning the Queen’s Plate will help my chances.”

Regardless of what happens Friday night in Toronto, Wilson is expected to return for her winter campaign at Fair Grounds shortly – possibly as soon a week from Monday in the $60,000 Woodchopper Stakes on Christmas Eve.

But speaking over the phone from Toronto Friday, Wilson was quick to recall the feeling of winning the Queen’s Plate last summer.

“It was pretty exhilarating,” said Wilson of her winning ride aboard Mike Fox, who was dismissed at odds of 15-1 in the Queen’s Plate. “I had ridden him in his two previous races, and I could tell he was improving rapidly. I remember stating before the race when I was asked that I wouldn’t trade my chances aboard my horse with anyone, and I really felt that way. I was pretty sure I’d run 1-2-3, and I was surprised when my horse paid as much as he did.

“As for being the first female to win the Queen’s Plate, the initial (media) explosion was pretty significant,” Wilson said. “It seemed like I did every interview with every radio station and every other media outlet, but I didn’t mind that so much because it seemed to bring a little more focus to horse racing. I’ve never been one to really play up the ‘female rider’ angle, but if it helps promote the sport, that’s probably a good thing. Also, it was probably the main reason I was invited to be the first female jockey to compete in that Hong Kong jockey challenge.”

What was her reaction to riding in the Orient?

“Words can’t really describe the whole experience,” said Wilson. “It was amazing – phenomenal – to travel to the other side of the world and meet people in and around the game and realize how much we all love the sport, and that we all face pretty much the same challenges the same way.

“I wish I’d done a little better in the competition,” Wilson added. “I rode in three races, and I was on the lead most of the way in one of them and just got caught at the wire, but I was honored to be a part of it.

“After (the Sovereign Awards), I fly to Miami (Saturday) to ride a horse at Calder for Roger Attfield (Sans Souci Island in the Grade II La Prevoyante Handicap),” Wilson said of her immediate plans, “but I think I’m penciled in to ride a horse at Fair Grounds in the Woodchopper (Dec. 24). It seems like I’ve spent most of this last month on a plane, but it’s been a great experience and I’ve had a lot of fun with it.”

 

Save Big Money Gets a Price in Saturday’s Diliberto

Tomisue Hilbert and John Menard’s Save Big Money, with career earnings of $175,133 entering Saturday’s second running of the $60,000 “Buddy” Diliberto Memorial Handicap, is homebred from Hilbert Thoroughbreds’ Kentucky base, but co-owner Menard hails from the Wisconsin-based privately held family-run chain of Midwestern home improvement stores.

Menards, believed to be the third largest home center chain in the United States behind The Home Depot and Lowe’s, features commercials that end with the well-known jingle – “Save big money at Menards.”

The equine Save Big Money is a 4-year-old son of Storm Cat out of Tomisue’s Delight. That 13-year-old broodmare is a daughter of A. P. Indy and won Belmont’s Grade I Ruffian Handicap in 1997 and Saratoga’s Grade I Personal Ensign Handicap in 1998 during her racing days.

Save Big Money, trained by Neil Howard, will be running in a stakes races for the third time Saturday and is 8-1 in the morning line. Six-time Fair Grounds leading rider Robby Albarado will be aboard.

In a similar nomenclature story, Stewart Madison’s Cush broke his maiden in the second start of his careeer when he won Thursday’s eighth race by 1 1/4 lengths.

Cush, a 2-year-old son of Arch out of the Coronado’s Quest mare Think Pink, made amends for his defeat on Thanksgiving Day, also as the public’s choice, when he broke slowly in his first career start but rallied late to finish second.

Cush is named after the family who owns and operates Cush’s Grocery and Café in Shreveport, a posh market that has about 10 tables and is one of the most popular eateries in the city. Kevin Costner was a regular there when filming one of his movies, and Katie Holmes recently had their cupcakes shipped out to a friend, which was mentioned in People Magazine.

The Cush family has been in the grocery business for generations. Paul Cush Sr., and sons Paul Jr. and Chris, are huge horse racing fans.

Madison, of course, also owned and bred Happy Ticket, the top Louisiana-bred money earner of all time, and when the Cush sons were kids, Madison would give them “happy tickets,” which were tickets on horses he’d bet for them.

“I thought this was a great name for a horse,” Madison said following Cush’s tally Thursday. “It’s short and easy to remember. The Cush’s are good friends, and that’s a very good restaurant.”