By Tim Wilkin
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Back at his office on the Oklahoma Training Track Wednesday morning, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was trying to describe the four-furlong work he had just seen from his 3-year-old colt Batten Down (Tapit).
“Wooosh,” was one of the sounds he made.
“Phhhffftt,” was another.
The cartoon melodies made by Mott were, supposedly, offered to show how impressive the grey/roan Batten Down looked to him.
Batten Down was timed in :48 (2/13) in the move on the Oklahoma Training Track.
It was his first work since finishing third in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 27.
Fierceness (City of Light) won the Jim Dandy by a length over Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who was 5 3/4 lengths in front of Batten Down.
Mott is pointing Batten Down to the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“Well, the Travers will be tougher than the Jim Dandy,” Mott said. “I am not making any predictions. I mean, he would have had to move up to win the Jim Dandy. He sure has to move up to win the Travers.”
After breaking his maiden in his fourth try, Batten Down won the GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 22 by 1 3/4 lengths over Gould's Gold (Goldencents), who then was fifth in the six-horse Jim Dandy.
The Wednesday work was scheduled, Mott said, but only because of an ominous forecast for the weekend that is not looking favorable for training racehorses.
Remnants from Tropical Storm Debby are expected to make a mess of things in the Saratoga Springs region this weekend.
“I scheduled (Wednesday work) because of the weather,” Mott said. “I am trying to get some works (Thursday). After (Thursday) we may have three or four wet days.”
Batten Downs is a full-brother to multiple graded winner Tacitus and 4-year-old filly Scylla.
Scylla just finished second to the highly regarded 5-year-old mare Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), winner of 10 of 18 career starts, in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last Saturday.
“Turning for home, I thought we were going to win it,” Mott said. “That other mare is pretty good.”
Scylla is back at Mott's Saratoga barn; she had been training at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.
“I don't have a plan for her,” Mott said. “The reason I brought her here was I want to get her in some cooler weather. It gets hot (in Kentucky). It gets hot here, but it cools off at night.”
Mott also trained Tacitus as well as Close Hatches, the dam of all three.
Lukas Still Has The Faith As Seize The Grey Continues Training For Travers
The effort in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes wasn't a great one. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be first to admit that. But in no way shape or form has the Hall of Famer's confidence dimmed in Seize the Grey (Arrogate).
The upset winner of the GI Preakness Stakes in May has finished off the board in last two, both at Saratoga Race Course.
Seize the Grey | Sarah Andrew
He was seventh in the GI Belmont Stakes on June 8 and then was a dull fourth in the GII Jim Dandy on July 27.
“There is no give up in me and training these things,” Lukas said at his office on the Oklahoma Training Track Wednesday morning. “I learned over the years that if you can't run off tackle, run around the end. If you can't do that, throw the ball.”
Seize the Grey has continued to work towards an expected start in the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes on Aug. 24. On Tuesday, he went five furlongs in :59.60 (1/4) on the Oklahoma Training Track. It was his first work since the Jim Dandy.
“That was very, very impressive again,” Lukas said. “He is such a professional horse. You don't have to do anything special. He just turns around and does it and he's like, 'what's next?”
Lukas waves off the notion that Seize the Grey does not like the Saratoga track. In the Jim Dandy, he said he was thinking about scratching the colt when he was saddling Seize the Grey.
He said the horse seemed agitated before being saddled. Lukas noticed Seize the Grey pawing at the ground and he was a little wet in his flanks.
“I've never seen that before with him,” Lukas said. “He was pawing like he was in discomfort. I thought, 'what the hell, maybe I am overreacting.' He has been fine since then. Excellent.”
Englehart Says Mo Plex Likely To Run Next In Funny Cide
The next start for GIII Sanford Stakes winner Mo Plex (Complexity) looks like it will be in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes against New York-breds on Aug. 25.
“That's the way I'm leaning,” trainer Jeremiah Englehart said at his barn at the Oklahoma Annex. “Right now, I would say it's 80 percent.”
Mo Plex wins the Sanford | Sarah Andrew
Mo Plex won the six-furlong Sanford by a length on July 13. The other option would have been to wait for the GI Hopeful Stakes on Labor Day.
The Funny Cide is six furlongs.
“If he runs well there, then maybe we can stretch him out,” Englehart said. “The ultimate goal that everyone has is, 'hey, let's see if we can get to the Breeders' Cup. We are just going to go race by race.”
Mo Plex had his first work since winning the Sanford on Saturday, going four furlongs in :49.90 (104/149) on the main track.
Englehart expects two more works before the Funny Cide.
“He showed good energy, it seems like he is on the right track,” Englehart said. “He absolutely loves what he is doing. That makes it a little easier for me.”
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