KY Derby 144 profile: Hofburg

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) – Hofburg, the Florida Derby runner-up, is named for the Vienna palace and surrounding neighborhood that is the official residence of the President of Austria.

Built in the 13th century, the Hofburg was the seat of power of the Hapsburg dynasty and the Holy Roman Empire.

It’s a seat trainer Bill Mott would love to have draped in roses.

With just 3 starts, only 2 as a 3-year-old, Hofburg remains lean on experience, but does avoid the “Curse of Apollo” (referring to the last Derby winner, in 1882, who didn’t record a start at 2) with his lone 2-year-old trip.

“If you believe in statistics you’ll believe in it and I definitely think there’s something to it,” Mott said. “Even if a horse has one race as a 2-year-old and they have that time, I think actually the time after the race is probably as important as the race at 2. You have to let them regroup a bit after their first run or two and I think any horse that’s had a couple races early on and then had that time to develop and grow really benefit from it.”

Hofburg is owned by Juddmonte Farms; a place you might typically associate with turf prowess and some speckled greatness on the dirt, but no Kentucky Derby wins.

Juddmonte last had a Derby day starter back in 2003 with runner-up Empire Maker.

Why such a long stint between entrants for the first Saturday in May for the central Kentucky farm?

Bryan Kennedy has more with Mott from the backside at Churchill Downs in the video; plus we hear from Juddmonte manager Garrett O’Rourke.