Riley Mott is on target to saddle his first two Kentucky Derby starters on May 2 at Churchill Downs, sending Wood Memorial Stakes winner Albus and Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt into the run for the roses.
Mott said the Derby does not always go to the best horse. More often, he said, it rewards a talented 3-year-old that gets the best trip, and that is the formula he is chasing with both of his contenders. He is hoping for a clean, clear trip and a chance to be in striking range near the top of the Churchill stretch.
That is a meaningful place for a trainer who is taking two shots at the same race for the first time. The Derby remains a test of speed, stamina and luck, and Mott’s pair arrive with different but persuasive résumés. Albus was a little slow to develop, but he has turned that corner with back-to-back wins. He also picked up valuable experience in the Wood Memorial, where he ran behind horses and still finished well.
Incredibolt brings a different kind of promise. He has flashed brilliance across his five career starts and is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs, a record that gives Mott a reason to believe the track itself could suit him on the biggest day of his career. Between Albus’ steady progression and Incredibolt’s sharp track form, Mott has two horses with legitimate paths into the race if they can get the trip he wants.
The Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 2 at Churchill Downs, and the field will sort itself out in a race where position and timing can matter as much as raw ability. Mott’s own assessment is blunt: the best horse does not always win the Derby, and the one that does often is the 3-year-old that finds the clearest run.
For Mott, that leaves the same simple objective for both horses and one very difficult standard to meet. If Albus and Incredibolt can work out that clean trip, the stretch at Churchill Downs could give him something he has never had before: a real chance to win the Derby from both sides of his barn.
