[OLD HEAD]

Court Vision

Trainer: Bill Mott

A native of Mobridge, South Dakota, Bill Mott was elected into racing's Hall of Fame at age 45, the youngest conditioner to be accorded that honor, and has received the Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer in 1995-96. He is probably best-known as the trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar, who amassed a 16-race winning streak to tie Citation's modern-day record. In addition to Cigar, Mott has trained champions Paradise Creek, Theatrical (IRE), Ajina and Escena. He is the all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs and has won numerous training titles on the New York and Kentucky circuits. He has saddled four starters in the Kentucky Derby, the last of which coming in 2002 when Blue Burner finished eleventh.

Jockey: Garrett Gomez

Garrett Gomez was born on January 1, 1972. A native of Tucson, he now lives in southern California, where he rides on the circuit. He began riding at Santa Fe Downs in 1988, riding the midwest fair circuit before moving to California in 1998. He won the autumn Hollywood riding title that same year. He also has ridden for a time at Churchill Downs, where he was based before a self-imposed sabbatical in 2002 due to substance abuse problems. Returning to the saddle in September, 2004, Gomez has enjoyed tremendous succes, including winning the 2005 spring/summer Hollywood meet title. Gomez became Pletcher's go-to rider when John Velazquez was injured during the 2006 Keeneland spring meet. Last year Gomez broke Jerry Bailey's record for number of stakes races won in a single year by taking over 70 stakes races. He also captured the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rags to Riches.

Owner: IEAH Stables & WinStar Farm LLC

IEAH Stables is the racing subsidiary of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, owned by Michael Iavarone and Richard J. Schiavo, both New York residents. Iavarone worked as an investment banker on Wall Street before forming IEAH, and Schiavo worked in the financial services industry. No stranger to Churchill Downs, IEAH saddled Wonder Lady Annie L to a fourth place finish in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks. The racing entity's biggest stakes win to date came in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile with notable turf horse Kip Deville, an Oklahoma bred. IEAH owns over 75 horses and has over 50 in training, with Richard Dutrow as the stable's marquee trainer. They purchased an undisclosed interest in 2008 Kentucky Derby hopeful Court Vision, who will now race in the stable's colors.

WinStar Farm is a Thoroughbred racing and breeding operation located in Versailles, Ky that is owned by Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt. Casner grew up in El Paso, Texas. In 1963, at the age of 15, he started galloping horses at Sunland Park. He put him self through college at Tarleton State University by galloping throughbreds, including champion Cho Croute. Upon graduation Casner embarked on a training career in the midwest. In 1979 Casner left the Thoroughbred industry. He and Troutt founded Excel Communications. Casner re-entered racing in the mid 1990's through various partnerships. Mr. Casner is currently chairman of the board for the Thoroughbred Owner Breeders Association, vice chairman and co-founder of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), and he serves on the board of trustees for Breeders' Cup. He was also a founding board member for The Race For Education Inc., a national scholarship foundation that provides educational opportunities to children of racing's backside workers and farm workers. Mr. Casner, his wife Susan and their daughter Kayce are residents of Flower Mound, Texas. WinStar farm encompasses approximately 1450 acres after current development is completed the farm will include 10 barns, a state of the art foaling complex, a newly renovated stallion complex and training barn and research lab. The farm is home to the stallions Tiznow, Speightstown, Distorted Humor, Victory Gallop, and Our Emblem. WinStar has campaigned the stakes winners Awesome Humor, License Fee, Mr. Mellon solely or in partnerships and bred 2003 Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. They had their first Derby starter in 2006, when Bluegrass Cat was second to Barbaro. Up until the spring of 2005, WinStar employed Elliott Walden as their trainer. Walden retired from training to take a position at WinStar, and at that time the horses were spread among a variety of trainers, including Todd Pletcher.

Breeder: Farish & Kilroy

A former Chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs, Farish is a well known and influential fixture in the racing world. He currently serves as Vice Chairman and Steward of The Jockey Club and a Trustee to the Keeneland Association. He is a former Director of Breeders' Cup Ltd. and former Chairman of the American Horse Council. He is a two-time Eclipse Award winning breeder; some notable horses bred by Farish include A.P. Indy, Charismatic, Danzig, Weekend Surprise, Sacahuista, Seattle Dancer and Storm Song. Farish founded Lane's End in 1979.

Finish.... Date.... Race

3rd 04.5.2008 Wood Memorial (GI) - Aqueduct
Well back early, made up ground on tiring foes late to get third

3rd 02.24.2008 Fountain Of Youth (GII) - Gulfstream Park
Trailed early, never threatened top two

1st 11.24.2007 Remsen (GII) - Aqueduct
Rough trip throughout; much the best

1st 10.27.2007 Iroquois (GIII) - Churchill Downs
Behind early, came wide stretch, won driving

1st 10.5.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Keeneland
Settled early, came running late to get the win

2nd 09.6.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Turfway Park
Slow start, swung wide, running hard late