Riley Mott, following the legacy of his father Bill Mott, has embarked on his own journey as a thoroughbred trainer. Currently, he is preparing to race Pin Oak Stud LLC’s Incredivolt, aiming to continue the tradition of Hall of Fame horses and potentially secure a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory.
The young trainer, who earned his first major win last year and whose father trained the 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereign, faces a pivotal moment this Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He will saddle Incredivolt in the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3), a crucial prep race on the path to the Kentucky Derby.
The Holy Bull, contested over 1 1/16 miles, serves as a significant stepping stone to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 and leads a 12-race card featuring five stakes for three-year-olds.
Riley’s involvement in the sport deepened when he celebrated a win at Churchill Downs last October. He trained Incredibold to victory in the Street Sense (G3) over the same distance as the Holy Bull—a race Sovereign won a year earlier. Incredibold impressively rallied from seventh to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Mott commented, “The two-turn distance was a major question, and he answered well. Winning at Churchill Downs is definitely a positive. He’s an Awesome Again filly who will only improve with more racing. We’re excited to have him in our stable.”
Incredivolt showed promise in his juvenile races. After a fourth-place finish in his debut six-furlong race at Ellis Park in August, he improved at Churchill Downs a month later, pulling away by two lengths in a one-turn mile. He concluded his two-year-old season with a stakes win in the Street Sense.
“He’s been training well here in Florida this winter after a successful two-year-old season, including beating maidens and winning the Street Sense Stakes,” said Mott. “We gave him a planned break at Pin Oak Stud before he came here in early December. He has stayed sharp, never really taking time off.”
Incredivolt enters the Holy Bull as the third choice on the morning line at 9-2 and has had strong workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training center. Jaime Torres, who has ridden Incredivolt in all three of his starts, will return to the saddle as the colt breaks from the rail.
Centennial Farm’s Neary is the morning favorite at 9-5 and will make his first attempt running around the second turn after consecutive sprint victories at Gulfstream. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher believes the added distance will suit Neary, who has been trained to handle longer routes and has the pedigree to back it up.
Not This Time’s son, Neary, had a rough start with a sixth and last-place debut at Aqueduct in October but has since flourished in Florida. He scored an impressive 9 1/4-length victory at Gulfstream over six furlongs in November and followed with a five-length win over seven furlongs in January.
Pletcher noted, “His two runs at Gulfstream met our expectations. His debut was disappointing, as he was green and didn’t perform as expected. But he responded well with two strong races and has trained excellently heading into this event.”
John Velasquez, a Hall of Fame rider, will take the reins on Neary, who is under Pletcher’s tutelage.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., fresh off a thrilling 1-2 finish with Skippy Longstocking and White Avario in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last weekend, will present the promising Bravalo in the Holy Bull. Owned by a group including Albert Ciuffetelli and Stephanie Brennan, Bravalo is undefeated in his two starts, both against New York-sired rivals at Aqueduct.
Bravalo won his six-furlong debut by a length in September and the one-turn-mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes by two and a half lengths in October, both times coming from off the pace.
Jockey Joseph, who rode White Avario to victories in the 2022 Holy Bull and Curlin Florida Derby, said, “He won both races very well and has worked extremely hard. Although he hasn’t raced two turns yet, he seems capable of handling it smoothly.”
Tyler Gaffalione, who recently won the Pegasus World Cup aboard Skippy Longstocking, will be aboard Bravalo for his Holy Bull debut.
Cannonier, owned by St. Elias Stables and Stonestreet Stables LLC, also makes his first two-turn start in the Holy Bull. A progeny of Into Mischief, he overcame a disappointing third-place debut last June at Churchill Racecourse to return after a six-month break and win impressively by 7 1/4 lengths over seven furlongs in Louisville in late November. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Cannonier, trained by Brad Cox, who is listed second on the morning line at 2-1.
Project Ace, representing Albaugh Family Stables LLC, steps into the Holy Bull coming off two strong runs at 1 1/16 miles. After finishing third in his seven-furlong debut at Churchill Downs in September, the War of Will colt showed notable improvement around the turns in subsequent races, including a narrow loss at Keeneland and a late rally win at Churchill in November. Corey Lanelli returns to ride Project Ace.
Other expected contenders include Roger That Dana from Smith Ranch stable, who was second in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream in early January, and Global Aviator from Special Aviators LLC, who scored a rally victory in his six-furlong Gulfstream debut.
Buetan was entered in the Holy Bull but had to withdraw due to a canceled flight. Chad Sommer’s Game for It was also slated but will not be racing.
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on January 28, 2026.
Fan Take: This upcoming Holy Bull Stakes is shaping up to be a thrilling race that showcases rising talent and the next generation of potential Derby contenders. For horse racing fans, it’s an exciting glimpse into the future stars of the sport and highlights the deep legacy and ongoing passion within prominent racing families like the Motts.
