Quick Turnaround for Emollient in Ashland

A week after running fifth behind Dreaming of Julia in the Gulfstream Oaks (G2), Emollient returns in Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1) for breeder and owner Juddmonte Farms and Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“The boss doesn’t do that very often: a week off and coming back in a Grade 1,” said Rodolphe Brisset, Mott’s Keeneland assistant who was in Dubai last Saturday with multiple champion Royal Delta. “It can be a little tough, but she’s given us every sign she can handle it.”

Brisset said the Mott team “always liked (Emollient) a lot” and he has ridden the Empire Maker filly in the mornings since she was in Saratoga last summer. She opened her career running second in a maiden race there and next won at Belmont Park and finished second in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct. In February, Emollient won her 2013 debut, an allowance race at Gulfstream.

Emollient, who drew post 13 in the field of 14 for the Central Bank Ashland, will be ridden for the first time by Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

“We didn’t have the best draw,” Brisset said. “The outside can be a little tough. She’s not very difficult to ride. She can come out of the gate and get into position. Mike knows what he’s doing.”