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Harvey's Lil Goil was able to hold off the late surge of Crystal Cliffs (FR) to win Saturday's 51^strunning of the $100,000 Regret (Grade III) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Martin Garcia, Harvey's Lil Goil covered the 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:47.70.

In the early stages of the race, 17-1 longshot Eve of War took command of the field of 13 three-year-old fillies through opening fractions of :23.26 and :47.48. Harvey's Lil Goil tracked just off the pace of Eve of War on the outside of In Good Spirits. Harvey's Lil Goil took control of the lead at the head of the stretch following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.80 but had to fend off the late charge of 6-5 favorite Crystal Cliffs.

Just outside of the sixteenth-pole, Crystal Cliffs, under John Velazquez, dove to the inside rail past the tiring Eve of War but just missed getting to Harvey's Lil Goil by a head at the wire.

“I thought we were in a little bit of trouble when Johnny dove to the rail,” Mott's assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy said. “However, when she got to her late in the stretch, she was able to fight back.”

Harvey's Lil Goil rewarded her backers with payouts of $24.20, $7.60 and $5.40. Crystal Cliffs returned $3.20 and $3 and In Good Spirits paid $6.20.

With her victory in the Regret, Harvey's Lil Goil boosted her career earnings to $154,529. The homebred-daughter of American Pharoah sports an overall record of 5-3-0-0. She races for the estate of her breeder, Harvey Clarke, and Paul Braverman.

Pass the Plate, Dominga, Stunning Sky, Hendy Woods, Micheline, Eve of War, Wexx, Edgee Angel, Witez and His Glory completed the order of finish.

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Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott became only the seventh trainer in history to record 5,000 wins when Moon Over Miami notched a one-length score in the third race on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Mott, who was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 1998, took out his trainer's license at age 16 in 1969. Throughout his storied career, the South Dakota native has won some of the world's most prestigious races including the 2019 Kentucky Derby (Country House), 1996 Dubai World Cup (Cigar) and 2010 Belmont Stakes (Drosselmeyer).

Mott was at Belmont Park on Saturday but his longtime assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy and veteran exercise rider Penny Gardiner were on hand to accept the accolade.

“We're so thrilled to achieve this milestone,” said McCarthy, who has worked under Mott for 25 years. “I know Bill is watching from New York but we are so happy, and a little relieved, to get this honor.”

Mott began his career under the tutelage of fellow Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg throughout most of the 1970s until he decided to open up his own stable in 1978. Over the next four decades, Mott trained six champions and 121 Grade I winners. Among the top horses under Mott's care were 1995-96 Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year Cigar, 2012-13 Champion Older Female Royal Delta and 1998 Champion Older Filly Escena.

Mott held the all-time trainer lead at Churchill Downs for more than 31 years until Dale Romans surpassed his mark in 2017.

Mott ranks seventh in all-time wins behind Dale Baird (9,445), Steve Asmussen (8,873), Jerry Hollendorfer (7,651), Van Berg (6,523), King Leatherbury (6,503) and Scott Lake (6,104).

The post Mott Hits 5,000 Career Win Mark With Churchill Downs Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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