Bill Mott, not one to push on to the Derby, is live with 3-year-olds this year. He just sent out Hidden Scroll for a runaway debut win at Gulfstream, and he has the likes of Mucho and Country House in the barn, too, among others.

Asked if he expected Hidden Scroll to run like he just did, Mott said, "He trained pretty nice." And smiled.

In Mott-ese, this is tantamount to, "I loved him and can't believe he just paid 8-1! Christmas came early!"

Mott said he asked about four riders to get on Hidden Scroll, "including some guys I don't usually call unless the horse is OK," and said they all had prior committments. When he realized Joel Rosario would be in for the day, he reached out to agent Ron Anderson, putting Rosario on a live ticket.

As for Mucho, one of the nation's best 2-year-olds last year, Mott said he has had three works at Payson Park -- where Mott is based during the winter -- and should be ready to race "end of February, early March."

Country House, a recent impressive maiden winner, is nominated to the Sam Davis at Tampa two weeks from today, but Mott said "I don't know that I want to pour the heat on him just yet," but said he'd wait at least another week before making a decision.