BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 4, 2023

Bill Mott

Garrett O'Rourke

Santa Anita Park

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Nice to see you back up here. Elite Power, back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. This horse, in such incredible form, has maintained such great form. To come back and win again, kind of take us through the year with Elite Power and leading up to today.

BILL MOTT: We didn't have very many races, but we had a group of fairly successful races. I guess he was beaten once this year. You try to figure that out. He had a little bit of a rivalry going with Gunite, and they showed up together once again today.

I think the -- I think you saw what happened. Just got everything fell into place.

THE MODERATOR: It seemed like he was actually a little sharper today.

BILL MOTT: Irad intended to have him a little closer. He told me, he said, I'm going to warm him up good. He said, I'm going to let him break and get away. He said, I'd like to be a little closer without taking too much out of him.

I said fine. You know what I mean, he was maybe a little closer than he's been in some of his races. And it worked out.

I think, when he switched leads and went into the turn, he started to pick it up on his own, and he put him up in a good position. It looked like then, when he got right on that horse's hip, he kind of waited until he switched leads. Then he asked him the question, and he answered.

THE MODERATOR: What an incredible Breeders' Cup for you. Three wins: Just F Y I yesterday, then Cody's Wish with the back-to-back win Dirt Mile, and Elite Power. What an incredible weekend for you and your stable and all your owners and connections.

BILL MOTT: It is. I'm really proud of my staff and the riders that ride for us and the grooms and the hot walkers. They really step up.

I think I'm fortunate enough to have one of the best crews in the entire country, and I think it pays off.

THE MODERATOR: Garrett, this horse, again, so special to come back here and not only come back, but to win back to back with these races. Juddmonte as well having such an incredible day today. What's next with Elite Power? I kind of know the answer to this, but I'll let you say it.

GARRETT O'ROURKE: I know, Bill would like me to say otherwise, but we're going to retire him to stud. I think he's earned it. He's a very masculine horse, and I bet he'll enjoy it.

He's got all the credentials to be a tremendous stallion. I think breeders will just swarm to him. Twice, he's surely sewn up the championship two years in a row, and that's pretty special.

THE MODERATOR: Not much to ask after that. I'll turn it over for some questions.

Q. This sort of shows, these two wins today that Juddmonte had, the diversification of your program. From before, almost everything was homebreds. And then Prince Khalid really decided he wanted to try to win the Derby and started buying yearlings. This horse was bought as a yearling, Curlin, were you thinking Derby, when you bought him?

GARRETT O'ROURKE: I would say absolutely. Curlin, and remember the dam was second in the Kentucky Oaks as well. Yes, he looked like a fast Curlin, but maybe he ended up being too fast, if that's a fault, which it's not.

He's obviously -- Bill figured him out very quickly. Maybe I was a little bit wondering, God, surely this horse should stay further, but why do you need to when you're a champion at what you do?

Really I have to thank Bill and all his staff at doing an absolutely masterful job in managing the horse and keeping him because, when this horse came good, by golly, did he stay good. He's gone out good now.

THE MODERATOR: We will wrap it up and thank you all very much. Congratulations, Juddmonte, on two victories today. Bill Mott, three Breeders' Cup wins this weekend. Congratulations to all of you.