In the days leading up to the 41st Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in California, usracing.com is publishing profiles for the horses in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, Nov. 2. Profiles will be updated following the post-position draw on Monday, Oct. 28.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has been known to make a mistake, or two, or 20. But only once.
Over the summer, Arthur’s Ride put together back-to-back victories at Saratoga (if you can call 7½ weeks between races "back-to-back").
After an impressive 12¾-length win in an optional claimer on June 7, Mott tabbed the Whitney Stakes(G1) on Aug. 3 for the Tapit colt’s next start. He was rewarded with a front-running 2¼-length win over Crupi in his first stakes start, earning a fees-paid spot in the Classic.
Next? Just four weeks later, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Arthur’s Ride dueled with winner Highland Falls but faded to finish fifth in the 1¼-mile race.
“I knew there was a risk in [running back so soon],” Mott said. “I didn’t want to wait to the Woodward [on Sept. 28] and have him run too big a race and then have to come back [in five weeks]. I hated to see him stagger home like he did.”
Since the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Arthur’s Ride has had a series of steady works at Saratoga, most recently covering 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 on Oct. 19 over the Oklahoma training track.
Betting advice: Ignore at your own risk. Nine weeks between races should suit him just fine. Mott doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
Post Position: 12
Odds: 15-1
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Glassman Racing
Career record: 8-4-2-0
Age: 4
Career earnings: $804,955
Last race: Jockey Club Gold Cup (5th), Saratoga, Sept. 1
Top Equibase speed figure: 115
Pedigree: Tapit-Points of Grace, by Point Given
Color: Gray
Running style: Frontrunner
The story behind Arthur’s Ride, while not quite as heart-rending as that of the Mott-trained Cody’s Wish (last year’s Horse of the Year), is compelling unto itself. The horse is named for owner Karl Glassman’s father, who passed away 18 months ago at age 91. When told of his new namesake, Arthur was almost dumbfounded. “You didn’t have to do that,” Arthur told Karl, who replied: “Dad, I really did. You had a great ride.” And he looked at me and said, “I have.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
