Incredibolt heads to the Preakness Stakes backed by Bill Mott’s advice to son Riley Mott

After consulting with his father, the trainer decided to bring back the colt who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and even his rivals are already pointing to him as the horse to beat at Pimlico

LAUREL, Maryland (Special to Turf Diario).- While much of the American racing world continues debating the absence of Sovereignty (Into Mischief) from the 2025 Preakness Stakes (G1), another member of the powerful Mott family has chosen to take precisely the opposite route.

Because Riley Mott, son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, ultimately confirmed the presence of Incredibolt in the second jewel of the Triple Crown just two weeks after the colt’s highly respectable sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). And perhaps most interesting of all, the decision came after consulting with his father.

Bill Mott recently found himself at the center of criticism after comments he made regarding the Preakness circulated out of context on social media. Many interpreted his words as dismissive toward the race itself, when in reality he had been speaking specifically about the ownership group behind another of his horses, Chief Wallabee (Constitution).

Riley, however, revealed that his father was actually one of the strongest advocates for running Incredibolt back in the Preakness.

“He’s not on social media, so I don’t even know if he realizes people were criticizing him over those comments,” Riley told the Daily Racing Form from Ellis Park.

He then described the key conversation.

“I called him and said, ‘What do you think? Would I be crazy to bring this horse back this quickly?’”

The answer came immediately.

“He pushed me toward doing it. He was completely on board. He told me: ‘Run that horse if you feel he’s doing well.’”

But Bill Mott went even further.

“He basically said: ‘He’s a lightly raced horse, he came back great… why couldn’t he take the next step and win the Preakness?’”

Although he finished sixth at Churchill Downs, Incredibolt left an extremely positive impression in the Derby. The son of Bolt d’Oro finished just four lengths behind winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) after enduring some bumping with Renegade (Into Mischief) during the stretch run.

Moreover, Riley Mott believes the colt still possesses enormous upside. In practical terms, he has only truly raced twice this season if one excludes the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, where he never felt comfortable and finished last.

He then returned to capture the Virginia Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs, securing his place at Churchill Downs, where he confirmed he belongs among the elite of his generation.

The impression Incredibolt created in the Derby was so strong that even some of his future rivals at Pimlico have already begun identifying him as the horse to beat.

None other than Steve Asmussen, trainer of Chip Honcho (Connect), described the decision to run in the Preakness as “brilliant.”

And Danny Gargan, trainer of Talkin (Good Magic), was even more direct.

“Riley Mott’s horse is the one to beat in the Preakness,” he said. “I really didn’t like seeing him enter the race.”