My Vote.....

Y’all been asking me who I’d vote for, what my thoughts are, and what would finally solidify my opinion on today’s burning question. Well, I don’t know about y’all, but this one ain’t even close.

You want to know where I stand, which side of the aisle I be standing.

I’m done trying to beat him. I can’t. He has won the hearts and minds of the people, and quite frankly, he’s earned it.

Yes, I’m talking about the one, the only, Sovereignty.

I tried Journalism. I tried Forever Young. I threw a few others into the mix along the way. No dice. No joy. I’ve been looking for somebody to knock this horse off his throne, and all I’ve been doing is beating my head against the wall.

That emphatic win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic pretty much put the matter to bed. But there's another part of this story that deserves a little attention, and it ain't got a damn thing to do with a pedigree, a speed figure, or some fancy handicapping angle.

It had to do with his feet.

Sovereignty had been hampered by a troublesome foot, and the answer, or at least a big part of it, was in the hands of the blacksmiths. He needed a shoe that would protect a tender area near the bulb of his foot. They changed the shoe, taking pressure off that sensitive spot and redistributing it to other parts of the foot.

Sometimes the answer ain't complicated. Sometimes it's right there at the bottom of the horse.

We saw his gallop on Sunday, in a video shot beautifully by Amy Kearns, and you could see the difference. He was moving sounder than he had in some time. That's the kind of thing you pay attention to when you're around horses. It may not make for a sexy headline, but it sure as hell can make a difference when it counts.

We saw something similar with White Abarrio. A new set of shoes, the glue-on kind, made a world of difference in how he moved.

There's an old saying in this game: No foot, no horse. And that ain't just something old horsemen say to sound wise while leaning against a stall door. It's a way of life in this business. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you can't get over your feet comfortably, you've got yourself a problem.

Which brings me to my overwhelming choice.

My vote for Trainer of the Year goes to Bill Mott.

What that man has done with Sovereignty deserves recognition. Managing a horse of that caliber, dealing with the setbacks, keeping him sound, getting the right people involved, and having him ready to deliver on the biggest stage in American racing? That's horsemanship, folks. The kind that doesn't always show up in a press release or a winner's circle selfie.

So there you have it. I've made my choice. No recounts, no hanging chads, no need to call in the lawyers.

Bill Mott for President!

And Sovereignty can have the keys to the White House.