Adam Coglianese / New York Racing Association

Majestic Warrior, ridden to victory by Garrett Gomez in The Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 3, 2007, will race in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday. Jessica Steinbrenner says her father, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, is ecstatic at the possibility of another shot at the Kentucky Derby.

Two-time Derby winner Nick Zito trained Bellamy Road, but this time fellow Hall of Famer Bill Mott was chosen to handle the Steinbrenners’ top colt. Mott is best known as the trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar in the mid-1990s, and he has excelled with older horses, especially fillies and mares. Both have been training for the Steinbrenner’s for years.

“We chose Bill because it has been a constant that he gets our fillies and the colts were going elsewhere — and he deserved a shot with our best colt,” Jessica Steinbrenner said. “He takes great care of horses. He won’t run them too soon, and he won’t run them if he doesn’t believe it’s a safe choice. ...I really look up to him. He is a great trainer.”

Mott trained one of Steinbrenner’s Derby horses — Blue Burner, who finished 11th in 2002. While Zito is Derby driven with 19 starters since 1990, Mott has sent out four since his first one in 1984.

“They have given me a lot of support for a long time, and recently Jessica has given me a big chance with a couple of colts,” Mott said, adding that Majestic Warrior has trained well at Payson Park in Miami in the weeks leading up to the race.

Mott has Derby hopefuls for other owners as well. Among them are Court Vision and Z Humor, who ran third and fourth in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream on Feb. 24.

“We’re glad to be able to have some potential horses for all these prep races, and we hope we come out of it in good order and have something to run on the big day,” Mott said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”

Majestic Warrior could put Mott and the Steinbrenners a step closer to Churchill Downs with a big effort in New Orleans. Risen Star winner Pyro is the morning-line favorite in a nine-horse field.

“I’ve been to Louisiana, but never for the races,” Jessica Steinbrenner said. “This is an exciting time.”

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