Mott Gets Assignment to Train Favorite Trick

Bill Mott, who trained Cigar when he won horse-of-the-year titles in 1995 and ‘96, is the new trainer of Favorite Trick, the early favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Joe LaCombe, the principal owner of Favorite Trick, made that announcement Tuesday. Patrick Byrne, who trained Favorite Trick as the colt won all eight of his races last year, had to give up LaCombe’s horses after becoming Frank Stronach’s private trainer last week.

LaCombe said Favorite Trick would be moved today to a training center in Ocala, Fla., where Mott keeps many of his horses. Mott will decide when Favorite Trick goes to the trainer’s barn at Gulfstream Park.

Under Byrne, Favorite Trick’s debut as a 3-year-old would have been the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 21, but LaCombe said he and Mott haven’t discussed the colt’s racing schedule.

Favorite Trick clinched the Eclipse Award for 2-year-old males by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park in November, and also is in a three-way battle with Skip Away and Gentlemen for 1997 horse of the year. The vote will be announced Feb. 10.

Other LaCombe horses trained by Byrne included Panama City, who also will go to Mott, and Polished Brass and Broad Choice, who are being sent to Elliott Walden.

“I only received one call from a trainer interested in taking Favorite Trick,” LaCombe said. “Some friends mentioned other trainers, but I don’t know that many trainers, so I was actually working from a short list. We needed to move quickly, and Bill Mott was a fairly easy choice. He fits all the parameters. He’s been very successful, and he trains in places [South Florida, Kentucky and New York] where my horses run.”