For Riley Mott, having horses he trains compete against those conditioned by his father, Bill, comes with both being racehorse trainers. The Motts have met as racing rivals before, across the calendar and at various tracks, with their shared profession occasionally placing them on opposite sides in search of a winning result.
But racing May 2 at Churchill Downs brings a different backdrop—and a far larger spotlight.
Their horses will square off beneath the famed twin spires in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1), the first leg of the Triple Crown and the sport's most visible race, expected to draw roughly 150,000 spectators to Churchill Downs and a television audience of around 20 million on NBC.
The family matchup—Riley with longshots Albus and Incredibolt, Bill with leading contender Chief Wallabee—adds a compelling layer to the 152nd Kentucky Derby, which will include 17 other 3-year-olds in a full starting gate.
While the Derby has previously featured family ties, those instances have more commonly involved jockeys or jockey-trainer combinations. Brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz have frequently ridden horses against one another in the Derby over the last decade and, in 2024, Keith Asmussen was the jockey of Just Steel for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the same race in which his father, Steve Asmussen, gave a leg up to Joel Rosario aboard Track Phantom.
But a father and son training opposing horses in the same Derby hasn't happened in the historic race since 1964, when Red Wingfield's Dandy K finished eighth, and Bobby Wingfield's Wil Rad was 10th.
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For the Motts, pride in reaching the Derby runs both ways. Still, sentiment yields to competition.
"Obviously, I've got to try to beat him on Saturday," the elder Mott said.
Though Riley has twice as many Derby starters as Bill, most observers give the family advantage to Bill's Chief Wallabee, owned by Michael and Katherine Ball and installed as the 8-1 fourth choice on the morning line. Second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and third in the Florida Derby (G1), Chief Wallabee has gained pari-mutuel backers since arriving at Churchill Downs and working sharply in blinkers, which he will wear for the first time in a race in the Derby under regular rider Junior Alvarado.
Riley's entrants—Incredibolt at 20-1 and Albus at 30-1, both for Pin Oak Stud—arrive with less fanfare. Both come off victories, however, with Incredibolt taking the ungraded Virginia Derby and Albus the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2). Jaime Torres rides Incredibolt, and Manny Franco is aboard Albus.
Riley said he is happy for his father to participate in the Derby, knowing the sentiment is mutual, but "once they load 'em in the gate, it's every man for himself."
There is, however, one rooting interest that appears less divided.
"I know that my wife's probably gonna be rooting for my son," Bill said of Tina, Riley's mother.
Riley offered a similar assessment: "I know who my mom's gonna be rooting for."
That they would utter such similar lines is unsurprising. Riley, 34, is a younger version of his 72-year-old father, not only in appearance but in his manner of speech and demeanor.
No wonder. From a young age, Riley was around Bill's barn, initially sent there as a self-described hyperactive child in need of an outlet. As he matured into an older boy and young man, he took on tasks at the barn.
After college, he assumed additional responsibilities, serving as his father's assistant for nine years. The experience provided him with the background to handle the many facets of being a horse trainer, from horse care to client relations.
Observing his father's style—marked by patience and professionalism—helped prepare Riley for his own career, which began in late 2022. Since then, his stable has developed steadily, supported by clients such as Pin Oak Stud, now led by Dana and Ben Bernhard. Their backing has been instrumental.
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"They've (provided) such a big push for my career," Riley said from the Churchill Downs backstretch. "So it's only fitting that we're here with their horses."
Even last spring, when Riley did not have a horse in the Derby, he joined his parents in cheering on Godolphin's Sovereignty, trained by Bill, to victory.
"It's something you wish everyone could experience," he said.
The victory gave Bill a second win in the race—and one he could more fully savor, as his first came when Country House was elevated from second to first in 2019 upon the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference.
Bill now bids to become just the seventh trainer to go back-to-back in the Derby, the last of which was Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.
Regarding their similar mannerisms, Riley says he hears it all the time.
"He's my hero, my role model," he said. "I try to emulate him every day, not only as a trainer, but as a father and human being."
He further appreciates all those who have aided him and his stable in the Derby journey.
"It's all a function of having great owners and clients that provide us with very capable horses," he said. "And among all else, our team—I can't say enough about the ability of the horsemen or horsewomen that make up our team, and I feel very fortunate to have them on board."
