Arthur's Ride (Tapit), who disappointed with a fifth-place finish in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 1, remains focused on the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 2. Following a remarkable performance in the GI Whitney Stakes on August 3, the striking grey horse has shown promising form during training, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.87 under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott at Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.
Mott reported that Arthur's Ride is exhibiting good energy and appetite, vital indicators of his well-being as he gears up for the Classic. The horse, purchased for $250,000 at Keeneland, celebrated a career-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure in a decisive victory at Saratoga in June. Despite the challenges he faced in the Jockey Club, where he finished behind the eventual winner Highland Falls, Mott believes the additional recovery time will benefit Arthur's Ride's performance in the Breeders’ Cup.
While Mott is not yet ready to outline a race strategy for the Classic, he acknowledged that Arthur's Ride doesn't necessarily need to lead from the front. Other Mott-trained contenders include the seasoned War Like Goddess, who prepares for her fourth Breeders’ Cup appearance, and promising horses like Scylla and Scythian, both eyeing their respective Classic entries. As one of the leading trainers, Mott is optimistic about his team's chances for success at the Championships.