Trainer Bill Mott's barn sent out a pair of Classic aspirants Thursday morning, including Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman's GII Wood Memorial winner Resilience (Into Mischief) along with George Krikorian's GI Ashland S. runner-up Just F Y I (Justify). The two returned to the work tab to continue their preparations for the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks, respectively.
The duo began their work together at 7:30 a.m. ET after galloping about one mile. The defending champion juvenile filly Just F Y I worked to the outside of Resilience and began one-length behind. By the quarter-pole, Just F Y I moved about a length in front of Resilience but, by the wire, the duo finished together. Resilience, who covered four furlongs in :50.2, finished his five-furlong gallop out in 1:02.80 while Just F Y I went four panels in :50 flat, galloping out in 1:03.40, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols.
“I thought [Resilience] had a great trip in the Wood Memorial,” Mott said. “I thought Johnny [Velazquez] rode him great. He might have gotten a little jammed up on the first turn but got clear down the backside. When he asked him, he responded and he finished up well. The best part is he looked good visually.
Resilience is out of Meadowsweet (Smart Strike), a daughter of MGISW Tranquility Lake (Rahy) and a half-sister to Grade I scorers Courageous Cat (Storm Cat) and After Market (Storm Cat).
“The entire family of this horse has been very accomplished on the racetrack. Part of the family is Courageous Cat, who I trained for a Grade I win [in the Shoemaker Mile]. The owners have been in the breeding business a long time and Resilience is just the result of their program.”
Resilience was bred in Kentucky by Pam and the late Marty Wygod, the parents of Bushnell. This would be the first starter in the Kentucky Derby for the Wygod family along with Waldman, a longtime partner of the Wygods.
Resilience and Just F Y I are stabled in Mott's Barn 19.
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