Riley Mott grew up watching his dad, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, win a plethora of major races in New York.
So when the final Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) was contested at Aqueduct Racetrack, it seemed rather fitting that it featured a lesson in the circle of life.
It was like father, like son as the young trainer posted his first win in New York's definitive Kentucky Derby (G1) prep when Pin Oak Stud's Albus drew clear in the stretch to post a 1 1/4-length victory over a fast-closing 38-1 shot Right to Party April 4 in the 66th and final $750,000 Wood contested at the Big A.
"I'm so tickled for the Bernhard family (Pin Oak Stud) and our team. We put in a lot of hard work every day and this is my life's work. I take a lot of pride in how we do things and how the barn is performing. It hasn't really sunk in yet, this year in general. Tomorrow is a new day, and we've got to wake up and work hard again," the 34-year-old Mott said.
With the Wood offering 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points for the May 2 Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, the son of Yaupon bred by Susan Casner picked up enough points in the mile-and-an-eighth 3-year-old stakes to wrap up a spot in the 1 1/4-mile opening leg of the Triple Crow, while racing outside of maiden company for the first time.
"After his maiden win (Feb. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs in his third and most recent start), the Wood Memorial was always on our mind. So, to have that come to fruition is really gratifying. Even if it is a (non-winners of two $20,000 claimer), when you can put forth a plan and execute it effectively, it really is so much fun as a trainer," Mott said.
Mott will now be bringing two horses to the Kentucky Derby, as Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt, also owned by Pin Oak, has 60 points and is 13th on the list of qualifiers.
"Never would I have thought going into this year that would be happening, but we still have a long ways to go and I just hope both colts stay happy and healthy and that we can put them in the gate that day," Mott said. "This horse will go right to Churchill and is scheduled to leave (April 6). It's fun to take him there and be qualified for the Derby and not just be a bystander and watch. We're thrilled and we'll let the good times roll."
Chester Broman Sr.'s Right to Party was 11th in the field of 12 after a half-mile, but closed from seventh at the eighth pole to edge Ocelli for second by a nose and vault into the Kentucky Derby field with 65 points. The son of Constitution earned 15 points in his previous start, a third in the 1-mile Gotham Stakes (G3), and is now 12th on the leaderboard in the battle for one of 20 spots in the Triple Crown opener.
At the moment, Right to Party is not nominated to the Triple Crown, but trainer Ken McPeek said that "for sure" the late nomination fee would be paid.
"He ran super. Once he got more distance, he figured things out. He grinds it out. He deserves the nomination. He earned it," McPeek said.
Iron Honor was the 5-2 favorite in the Wood, but he had a rough, wide trip from post 12 and finished seventh.
With 50 qualifying points from a victory in the Gotham, he's 21st on the leaderboard and will need a defection in order to run. But trainer Chad Brown seemed willing to draw a line through Saturday's performance and ponder a start in the Run for the Roses.
"Let me go back to the drawing board. It was such a rough trip. This horse is really good," Brown said. "I didn't like how it unfolded at all for him after he got slammed (going into the first turn). He was flat on the bit down the backside. You'll see in the head on, he was pulling the whole way. It didn't really work out for him out there, but let me see how he comes out of it and go from there."
There was a fast pace in the 101st Wood as Napoleon Solo and Talk to Me Jimmy dueled through fractions of :22.92, :47.30, and 1:12.04. On the turn, jockey Jaime Torres moved Albus, who was eighth early on, four wide and he surged in the stretch to a half-length lead at the eighth pole and extended the margin from there.
Sent off at 11-1 ($25.78), Albus covered the mile and an eighth in 1:51.71.
Albus, out of the Bernardini mare Adream, was bought for $320,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. A half brother to grade 3 winner Song of Spring, he is Adream's ninth and most recent foal and second winner.
Albus is the 10th black-type winner and first graded stakes winner for Yaupon, the 2025 leading freshman sire. Yaupon stands the 2026 season at Spendthrift Farm for a $60,000 fee.
