Trainer: Bill Mott

A native of Mobridge, South Dakota, Bill Mott was elected into racing's Hall of Fame at age 45, the youngest conditioner to be accorded that honor, and has received the Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer in 1995-96. He is probably best-known as the trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar, who amassed a 16-race winning streak to tie Citation's modern-day record. In addition to Cigar, Mott has trained champions Paradise Creek, Theatrical (IRE), Ajina and Escena. He is the all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs and has won numerous training titles on the New York and Kentucky circuits. He has saddled four starters in the Kentucky Derby, the last of which coming in 2002 when Blue Burner finished eleventh.

Jockey: John Velazquez

A native of Puerto Rico, born on November 24, 1971, Velazquez is perennially among the top 10 riders in New York, where he currently lives. On Sept. 3, 2001, he became the first jockey in Saratoga history to ride six winners on a single card. On April 22, 2001, Velazquez won his 2,000th career race. His mounts earned in excess of $22.4 million in 2004, tops in the nation, while his 335 wins were good for third last year. After attending jockey's school and riding in Puerto Rico, came to New York in March 1990. He has ridden in eight Derbies, his best a second on Invisible Ink in '01. He and his wife Leona, daughter of trainer Leo O'Brien, have one daughter and one son.

Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC

Zayat Stables LLC is owned by Ahmed Zayat. Zayat is the CEO and Chairman of Al Ahram Beverages, a major manufacturer and distributor in Egypt. He has been involved in buying horses at auction for just a few years but has always had an interest in horses. Zayat Stable has over 100 horses dispersed amongst trainers Bob Baffert, Bill Mott, Mark Casse, Dale Romans, Patrick Biancone, Todd Pletcher, Tony Dutrow, and Rick Dutrow, Jr. Notable horses having sported the Zayat silks include Point Ashley, Got the Last Laugh, E Z Warrior and 2007 Kentucky Oaks starter High Again. Zayat owns over a dozen broodmares and has shown an interest in someday standing stallions.

Breeder: Diane Snowden

Diane and Guy Snowden are some of the founding fathers of the modern lottery industry in the 1970's. They got into thoroughbred racing and breeding operations in the latr 1980's with the founding of Bought Falls Creek Farm in Oneca, CN. They typically breed their mares to Kentucky Stallions by shuttling mares to Kentucky for the mating and bringing them back to Connecticut to foal. The Snowdens were owners of Peekskill (3rd in the 2002 Florida Derby) and partners in the ownership of graded stakes winner El Amante. They bought a half interest in Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Escena for her career as a broodmare. The Snowdens pointed towards the Kentucky Oaks in 2005 with homebred filly Culinary, a daughter of El Amante, but were unable to make the race with the Grade 3 winner.