Pin Oak Stud’s World Beater delivered a breakthrough performance in Saturday’s GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes, turning the tables on previous conqueror Test Score to give trainer Riley Mott his first graded stakes victory.
The 3-year-old son of Oscar Performance, who finished second behind Test Score in the July 4 GI Belmont Derby, prevailed by a half-length in the 1 3/16-mile turf contest, completing the distance in 1:52.82.
“I grew up here,” said Mott after the race. “This is my childhood at Saratoga, this is my playground. The amount of times we’ve walked down here to the winner’s circle together, my dad and I, I couldn’t count them all, so this was really special to have him and my extended family here.”
The victory marked a significant milestone for Mott, son of and former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. While the younger Mott is no stranger to racing’s biggest stage, this represents his first graded stakes triumph as a head trainer.
Breaking from the outside post position, World Beater settled midpack as 28-1 longshot Juwuelier (Ire) opened up a daylight lead through fractions of :23.92 and :47.67. Junior Alvarado, picking up the mount when regular rider Jaime Torres was stranded in Atlanta due to weather delays, positioned the colt perfectly.
“Beautiful trip from the nine [post],” said Alvarado. “I got to save some ground coming into the first turn and completely cut the corner in the second turn. When I asked my horse for his best, he split horses, and he was unbelievable today.”
Juwuelier, making his U.S. debut after winning the G3 Derby Trial at Baden-Baden in Germany on May 31, maintained his lead into the stretch. World Beater tipped out under Alvarado’s urging and found another gear as Test Score threatened from the outside. The Pin Oak homebred mowed down Juwuelier late and held off Test Score’s challenge.
Alvarado, the regular rider for Bill Mott’s 2025 dual Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), was aboard World Beater for the first time.
A $105,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2023, World Beater has shown steady improvement throughout his career. He broke his maiden in his fifth start on May 2 over the Churchill Downs turf course, followed by a victory in the Audubon Stakes on May 31. His runner-up finish in the Belmont Derby proved to be the perfect setup for Saturday’s breakthrough.
The form of that Belmont Derby was further flattered when its third-place finisher, Luther (GB), captured Friday’s GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.
Pedigree Highlights
World Beater becomes the ninth graded stakes winner for his sire Oscar Performance, who is enjoying a remarkable season with his fourth crop of 2-year-olds now racing. He joins Trikari as his sire’s second Grade I winner.
Dabinett, a winning daughter of Blame, was bred by Dr. John A. Chandler, husband of the late Mill Ridge founder Alice Chandler. The dam has been exclusively bred to Oscar Performance throughout her broodmare career.
Her 2-year-old colt Heeere’s Johnny finished fifth on debut at Saratoga July 13 after selling for $100,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. Dabinett has produced fillies in 2024 and 2025 and was bred back to Oscar Performance for next term.
World Beater’s second dam, black-type winner Sharp Apple—by the late Mill Ridge sire Diesis (GB)—also produced European MGSW and French G1SP Pomology (Arch) and MGISP Sassy Little Lila (Artie Schiller).
WORLD BEATER upsets the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 11-1 with @JuniorandKellyA aboard for @Riley_Mott, who picks up his first graded stakes win! pic.twitter.com/vnNielaqmv
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA)
WORLD BEATER upsets the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 11-1 with August 2, 2025
Saturday, Saratoga
SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-2, 3yo, 1 3/16mT, 1:52.82, fm.
1–WORLD BEATER, 122, c, 3, by Oscar Performance
1st Dam: Dabinett, by Blame
2nd Dam: Sharp Apple, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Top Apple (Fr), by Top Ville (Ire)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($105,000 Ylg’23 KEESEP). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-John A. Chandler (KY); T-Riley Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $412,500. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-1, $826,414.
2–Juwelier (Ire), 122, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Gravitee (Fr), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (82,000gns Ylg ’23 TATOCT; €140,000 2yo ’24 ARQBRU; €1,100,000 RNA 3yo ’25 ARQJUL). O-Hajro Jusufovic; B-Newtown Anner Stud (IRE); T-Alessandro Botti. $150,000.
3–Test Score, 122, c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten’s Joy. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $90,000.
Margins: HF, HD, 1. Odds: 11.20, 28.00, 2.65.
Also Ran: Hotazhell (GB), Final Gambit, New Century (GB), Capitol Hill, Tiberius Thunder (Ire), Tiztastic.
