Mott Makes 70th Birthday A Winning One

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Arriving just in time at the wire, Elite Power (Curlin) added to Bill Mott's massive resume of Grade I triumphs Saturday and yet another birthday victory to his remarkable total at Saratoga Race Course.

With his thrilling come-from-behind score by a head over Gunite (Gun Runner) Saturday in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., the 4-year-old Juddmonte colt provided the Hall of Famer with a very nice present on his 70th birthday. By extending his winning streak to eight, Elite Power gave Mott his 24th Saratoga victory on his birthday. Since the birthday countdown started in 1992, Mott has had at least one winner in 18 of the 27 years there has been racing at Saratoga on July 29.

“It's been a productive date up until this point,” Mott said with a smile.

Elite Power was the last of Mott's six starters on the Saturday program affected by rain. By the time the Vanderbilt was run at 4:45 p.m., the main track was sealed and listed as sloppy and turf racing had been curtailed. In his first try on a wet track, Elite Power was able to collar and get his head in front of Gunite just before the wire.

After taking part in the winner's circle photograph, Tina Mott said her husband is well aware of the Saratoga birthday angle that came life when he won with his first three starters on his 39th birthday.

“I razz him about it,” she said. “Like, 'Oh, it's your birthday. You have to win a race.'”

Mott's last winner on his birthday was in 2018 and Tina Mott said he joked about it. He was 0-for-5 since Length (War Front) won a maiden special weight race on his 65th birthday.

“He's like 'all the pressure's off now,'” she said. “But he likes to always win at least one on his birthday.”

According to Equibase, Mott entered this season at Saratoga with 464 victories, 91 of them in stakes. Elite Power was his fifth winner so far and third in a stake. Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) started the stakes run this summer in the GIII Kelso S. and Scotland (Good Magic) got to the wire first in the Curlin S..

Mott saddled his first horse at Saratoga Race Course in 1984 but did not have a starter on his birthday until 1992 when he won the fourth with Missed the Storm, the fifth with Richman and the sixth with Patriot Strike. In the eighth, Tourney finished second by a head to Distinct Habit in the GIII Schuylerville S. Missed the Storm returned the next year to win the GI Test S., which was run two days after his birthday

Following his breakout birthday year, Mott won with three of five starters. He had one winner in 1994, two in 1995. Since then, he has been 0-for-the-29th eight times. In 2015, he did not have a starter on the program. On his birthday, Mott is 24 of 86, a 27.9 winning percentage. Among the wins are the 2000 Test with Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold) and the 2006 GI Diana S. with Angara (GB) (Alzao).

Mott said he figured that his lineup on Saturday might produce another birthday win.

“I really thought I was in with some good chances, starting out in the second race and we finished second with [High Oak (Gormley)] the longest odds we had on the board. I thought we were in with the chance with a couple horses particularly there, particularly with this horse and then we've scratched the filly [Spungie (Hard Spun)] in the [ninth] race. They're off the turf. So I thought we had some chances. You Look Cold [Frosted] finish third [in the fifth]. She ran well. She gave a good effort. The main thing is that they all run well. The birthday thing, winning on your birthday is fun, but the most important thing is that we generate Grade I winners for a major stable like this horse did today. That's what it's really all about. It's about winning, winning the major races and horses like this going to the stud barn.”

The post Mott Makes 70th Birthday A Winning One appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tina Mott Appointed To Saratoga WarHorse Board Of Directors

Saratoga WarHorse, a not-for-profit organization which uses retired Thoroughbred racehorses to work with service members and veterans who are suffering after experiencing trauma while in the military, today announced the appointment of veteran and Thoroughbred advocate Tina Mott to its Board of Directors effective this month.

A longtime supporter and volunteer with Saratoga WarHorse, Mott will work with the organization to further its mission of promoting the physical, mental and emotional health of veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress by providing a healing, equine assisted experience exclusively using retired thoroughbreds.

Mott has more than 35 years of experience in the Thoroughbred industry and is the wife of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott of Mott Thoroughbred Stables.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tina to the Saratoga WarHorse Board of Directors,” said U.S. Army veteran and Saratoga WarHorse Foundation Chief Executive Officer Allison Cherkosly, Ph.D. “Her intense passion for helping veterans, deep background in the thoroughbred industry and passion for the Saratoga WarHorse program make Tina an ideal leader for our organization. We look forward to working with Tina in this new capacity.”

Mott is a familiar presence within the organization having served as a volunteer during program sessions for several years. As a volunteer, she provides meals for the veteran participants and records their experience connecting with equine counterparts at Saratoga WarHorse's location in East Greenbush, NY, which is also home to the renowned thoroughbred rescue program ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption.

“I have always had the utmost respect and gratitude for our veterans, so I was thrilled that the animals that have given my family such a wonderful life could also contribute to the health and well-being of our veterans,” said Mott. “I look forward to working with Allison, my fellow board members and the Saratoga WarHorse team on growing this enriching and important program.”

Since its inception in 2013, Saratoga WarHorse has helped over 1,300 military veterans and service members move past their trauma by partnering them with retired thoroughbred racehorses and providing a new treatment approach vastly different than equine therapy or any existing treatments.

Saratoga WarHorse offers a one-time, three-day experience which culminates with each veteran and their Thoroughbred counterpart participating in a procedure called the “Connection Process.” This process can last anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, and has been empirically proven to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress and their negative impact. Videos of the Connection Process are available online at https://www.saratogawarhorse.org/gallery.

The organization also recently launched the Military Armed Forces and Racehorses Program, which is designed to assist military service members mobilized during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The immersive program, which is available at no cost to service members who were activated during the pandemic, is currently accepting enrollments from eligible Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard troops. To inquire or refer a veteran or service member, or for more information about the program, visit SaratogaWarHorse.org.

Donations to Saratoga WarHorse can be made online at SaratogaWarHorse.org/donate. Saratoga WarHorse is 100 percent funded by private charitable contribution. All donations are 100 percent tax-deductible.

The post Tina Mott Appointed To Saratoga WarHorse Board Of Directors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tina Mott Named to Board of Saratoga WarHorse

Tina Mott has been named to the board of directors of Saratoga WarHorse, a not-for-profit organization which uses retired Thoroughbred racehorses to work with service members and veterans who are suffering after experiencing trauma while in the military. Mott has more than 35 years of experience in the Thoroughbred industry and is the wife of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tina to the Saratoga WarHorse Board of Directors,” said U.S. Army veteran and Saratoga WarHorse Foundation Chief Executive Officer Allison Cherkosly, Ph.D. “Her intense passion for helping veterans, deep background in the Thoroughbred industry and passion for the Saratoga WarHorse program make Tina an ideal leader for our organization. We look forward to working with Tina in this new capacity.”

Mott has served as a volunteer during the organization’s program sessions for several years, providing meals for the veteran participants and recording their experience connecting with equine counterparts at Saratoga WarHorse’s location in East Greenbush, NY.

“I have always had the utmost respect and gratitude for our veterans, so I was thrilled that the animals that have given my family such a wonderful life could also contribute to the health and well-being of our veterans,” said Mott. “I look forward to working with Allison, my fellow board members and the Saratoga WarHorse team on growing this enriching and important program.”

The post Tina Mott Named to Board of Saratoga WarHorse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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