Kirkpatrick & Co. Presents In Their Care: Second Career Has Been ‘A Hell Of A Ride’ For Mott Assistant originally appeared on Paulick Report.
When Neil Poznansky worked as a jockey and fell short in races, he often encouraged disappointed owners by telling them, “We’ll get them next time.”
Now, in his second career as an exercise rider and assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, he has come to understand that “next time” is not guaranteed. Each start is precious, especially when it comes to a star such as Sovereignty.
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Poznansky, 52, has played a critical role in the development of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, precisely executing Mott’s instructions during works that have the Into Mischief colt on an upward trajectory heading into the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) on June 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
“Sometimes they peak and that’s the top of their capabilities,” Poznansky noted. “It just seems like he’s developing every time and he might be growing, too.
“Physically, he’s stronger. I think he’s gotten bigger, more muscled. Mentally, he’s gotten more into it. In the spring, his works were very lackluster. We knew what he was capable of. It was just bringing him along and getting him to do that.”
The staff witnessed a master at work in the 71-year-old Mott’s ability to elevate Sovereignty to the head of the 3-year-old class. “That’s what Bill is great at. He just lets them develop. They’ll develop in their time,” Poznansky said.
After the Derby, Mott emphasized the importance of having a strong team. “I’m so proud of everybody that had anything to do with getting the horse to this point, and it takes a lot of people,” the trainer said. “It takes a family and it takes a community to get him ready, really.”
Poznansky, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, has been front and center on that team. He retired as a jockey in 2008. According to Equibase, he won 761 races with earnings of $15,669,892. He holds the distinction of being only the second person to sweep the Eclipse Award in the United States and the Sovereign Award in Canada as the leading apprentice, accomplishing that in 1996.
Over time, his weight increased while his number of mounts decreased. For the sake of his health, he knew he had to transition to another career. He had been galloping horses for Mott and was enjoying their budding relationship. He walked into the trainer’s office one day and told him, “I’m done. I’d like to start learning how the barn runs.”
Although Mott gave generously of his time, neither imagined how important a role that moment would play. Good and great exercise riders are invaluable. Poznansky has been aboard many of the barn’s finest runners – Grade 1 winners Elate and Flat Out, Hall of Famer Royal Delta, 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and two-time champion sprinter Elite Power.
“I’m leaving some out, but it’s one after another,” the rider said. “We’ve been fortunate that somebody always comes through to pick up the pieces.”
Poznansky ranks Sovereignty among the great horses that have come through the barn during his time. “You’ve got to put him right up on top with them. He’s proven himself. He’s improving as well,” he said. “The sky’s the limit for him right now as far as I can see.”
The Godolphin homebred’s only off-the-board finish in seven lifetime starts occurred in his Aug. 24 debut at Saratoga Race Course. Regular rider Junior Alvarado needed to coax him from the starting gate; the youngster left himself with too much to do in finishing fourth.
Overall, Sovereignty owns four victories with a pair of runner-up efforts for earnings of $4,872,800. If he can add the Jim Dandy and the Aug. 23 Travers to his laurels, he would almost surely lock up the Eclipse Award as the leading 3-year-old male. He also would be a formidable Horse of the Year candidate entering the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
In a sign of how far Sovereignty has come, Poznansky was particularly impressed when he was aboard for a July 4 workout in which they traveled four furlongs in :48.99 seconds in company with 4-year-old graded stakes-placed Jefferson Street at Saratoga’s Oklahoma Training Track.
Neil Poznansky (left) helps lead Sovereighty into the Saratoga winner’s circleWalter Wlodarczyk/NYRA photo
“It was like he was galloping around there and his workmate was no slouch,” the rider said. “Every time he tried to get near him, he pulled away from him like it was nothing. He’s just developing more and more. It’s really fantastic.”
Poznansky also enjoys his role as an assistant. “I see all the work and effort and time that everybody puts in from the hotwalkers to the grooms, myself, Bill, everybody,” he said.
Poznansky thought back to the day he asked Mott for an opportunity. “I just wanted to do the job. I had no expectations. I really had no idea what I was in for,” he said. “But it’s been a hell of a ride.”
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.