Rocky: former Chad Brown trainee, now right-hand man to Bill Mott
The trainer of Sovereignty and Knightsbridge has an inseparable companion at Keeneland: a former racehorse officially named Looking At Bikinis, who once contested the Travers Stakes (G1) and now plays a fundamental role in his barn.His arrival in the stable hides a story as curious as it is entertaining
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Bill Mott saddles two of the prime contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), but another horse in his contingent is also turning plenty of heads at Keeneland. He won't be competing on Saturday, doesn't feature in the morning line, and has nothing left to prove in terms of speed. His name is Rocky, he is 10 years old, and he accompanies the Hall of Fame trainer virtually everywhere he goes.
The former racehorse arrived from Saratoga alongside Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Knightsbridge (Nyquist)—the two Godolphin color-bearers set to contest the $7 million Classic—and T Kraft (Connect), bound for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Every morning, as the horses make their way from the Rice Road barns to the Keeneland main track, Mottaccompanies them aboard Rocky, who serves as his main pony, keeping the high-strung runners calm during their morning routines.
Yet the most entertaining aspect of his presence is how he came to hold that role—a tale Mott clearly delights in sharing, complete with a wry smile that hints it shouldn't be taken entirely literally.
“One night I was saying my prayers, and as I was finishing up, I thought I'd add one more request: ‘Lord, please send me some of those horses Chad Brown trains,’” recalled the Hall of Fame conditioner.
“And sure enough, Rocky showed up,” he added with a chuckle.
The reality was somewhat less miraculous, though no less curious. Roughly two or three years ago, an exercise rider who ponied horses on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga offered to sell Mott his pony, as he was relocating to Florida.
The trainer accepted and brought the horse into his barn. Up to that point, nothing seemed particularly extraordinary.The twist emerged when Mott discovered who the horse had been prior to embarking on his second career.
From the Travers to the Pony Ranks
Rocky had raced under the name Looking At Bikinis and had indeed been trained by Chad Brown, one of Mott's chief professional rivals.
While his racing career wasn't legendary, it was far from insignificant: he secured four victories from ten starts and competed on some of North America's biggest stages.
In 2019, he lined up in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, finishing eleventh. That same year, he placed fourth in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct.
Lacking a stakes victory, Looking At Bikinis eventually retired from the track to begin retraining as a saddle horse.
However, once he arrived in Mott's barn, his original moniker failed to make a positive impression on the trainer.
“There’s nothing wrong with Looking At Bikinis,” Mott explained with another grin. “But you can’t name a horse that. It sounds way too delicate. Rocky sounds a whole lot better.”
Having played football and wrestled in his youth, Mott preferred a name with far more grit.
Thus, Looking At Bikinis was rechristened Rocky—an identity much better suited, according to his new owner, for the duties laying ahead.
A Companion Who Learned the Trade
The transition to his new role wasn't seamless overnight. Mott vividly recalls one of Rocky's first trips through the paddock after joining the string.
“He had a bit of a flashback to his past life. The first time he walked into the paddock, he thought the whole show was for him and that they were about to saddle him up to race,” Mott recounted.
That initial moment quickly became a funny memory. Over time, Rocky came to understand that his job no longer involved competing, but rather escorting those who still do.
He eventually grew into an invaluable part of the trainer's daily routine. “He’s good. He turned into a very reliable pony, and his second career is going great. It’s hard to find the perfect pony, just like it’s hard to find the perfect racehorse, but he does his job exceptionally well,” Mott acknowledged.
His presence is especially vital with elite horses like Sovereignty and Knightsbridge, who require composure during the final days leading into such a high-stakes engagement.
While all eyes remain fixed on final breezes, post position draws, and the chances of the Classic favorites, Rockyquietly goes about his work without fanfare.
He doesn't possess the raw speed of Knightsbridge or the credentials of Sovereignty, but he boasts something Mottconsiders indispensable: the trust built through day-to-day work.
The story also carries a layer of irony that is hard to beat. Mott joked about asking God for one of Chad Brown's horses—and ended up receiving one.
He wasn't a G1 champion or a future Breeders' Cup superstar, but rather a former racehorse who found a second calling and became his constant companion.
Rocky won't be stepping into the starting gate for the Classic, but he will certainly be among the first to escort its contenders onto the track. And for Bill Mott, that holds tremendous value in its own right.
