Hofburg looks to play spoiler to history in G1 Belmont Stakes | Belmont Stakes
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Jun 6, 2018

Hofburg looks to play spoiler to history in G1 Belmont Stakes

by NYRA Press Office



Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he has a plan for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets for Hofburg to have a chance to play spoiler when Justify attempts to become the 13th Triple Crown winner.

"You'd like to be within two, three lengths at the quarter-pole,'' said Mott on Wednesday morning at Belmont Park. "I've been observing a lot of these marathons on dirt, and I don't think you want to be a dozen lengths off the lead turning for home."

Mott has been through these races before, coming up a winner in 2010 with Drosselmeyer at odds of 12-1. This time, the 64-year-old trainer from South Dakota, saddles a 3-year-old colt tabbed the 9-2 second choice behind Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness winner Justify.

Of course, the biggest question is whether any of the 10 horses entered can handle the 1 ½-mile "Test of the Champion."

"You've got to have a horse that really wants to do that, genetically capable of doing it,'' said Mott. "That's probably one of the main ingredients. Horses are made a little different, move a little differently, and some have the capacity to do it. Training is part of it, but rather I'd rather have a horse that is capable of doing that rather than one that is challenging as a miler trying to stretch it out."

Hofburg seems to be well bred for the distance. He is by Tapit, the sire of three Belmont Stakes winners, including Tapwrit last year. On his dam side is Touch Gold, who won the 1997 Belmont and spoiled the Bob Baffert-trained Silver Charm's quest for a Triple Crown.

Hofburg finished eighth in the Derby under Irad Ortiz, Jr., then skipped the Preakness and returned to Saratoga to train up to the Belmont. The Juddmonte Farms chestnut made the trip downstate on Monday, and has acclimated well.

"We got real lucky with the weather. He had a good trip on a dry road,'' said Mott. "We've been through the paddock and he's good. He was on the race track this morning; wasn't too aggressive, pretty relaxed.

"He's very good. We went into Churchill Downs with all the hoopla in there and it didn't seem to faze him. He stays cool and calm. He knows what he's there for and doesn't seem to get too overly bothered. Until the race, he'll just have regular gallops each morning around Big Sandy."

Mott reported on two other horses he'll saddle on Saturday, Good Samaritan in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap and Channel Maker in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan.

"Good Samaritan seems to be doing well. We're anxious to run him at a flat mile to see what happens,'' said Mott of his 10-1 shot. "We know we're going to be a good ways back early in the race and hopefully he'll come with a big run at the end."

The 5-2 favorite for the race is Mind Your Biscuits, with Bolt d'Oro the second choice at 4-1 in the field of 11.

Channel Maker comes into the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan on the turf looking for his first victory in four starts this year. The son of English Channel will be ridden by Jose Ortiz and is 20-1 on the morning line.

Channel Maker finished fifth in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 5.

"He had some traffic problems," Mott said. "He's a horse that probably needs to start his run a little earlier. He started, stopped and then redirected."

The Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber owned 4-year-old has two wins, three second and three third from 16 career starts, with earnings of $516,250.


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