Uncle Mo Rides the Breeders’ Cup Wake

The headlines have been written … Zenyatta and Blame. Blame and Zenyatta. What a race! Who should be Horse of the Year? As the racing world still crackles with the electricity generated by the Classic, and with Goldikova serving as a formidable sidebar, the other Breeders’ Cup stars have been somewhat pushed below the surface. Fair enough, first things first. The Classic did create a tidal wave of excitement and emotion, but there was one colt who was so spectacular that he demands attention in the here and now. Of course, the colt I speak of is Uncle Mo, the romping winner of the 27th running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Uncle Mo controlled America‘s predominant race for two-year-olds from his stalking position and left rider John Velazquez with little to do but search for the competition. The son of Indian Charlie took the race by the throatlatch at the top of the stretch and cruised home down the Churchill Downs stretch as much the best. Uncle Mo finished 4 ¼ lengths clear of his only real competition, second choice Boys at Tosconova, who was more than 6 lengths ahead of 3rd place finisher Rogue Romance at the finish. The win confirms the hype placed on this horse from the very beginning, or at least it confirms that hype as a juvenile. Breaking his maiden by 14 ¼ lengths on Travers Day, Mo introduced himself in a big way. Running away from the Grade 1 Champagne competition in October furthered his reputation. I was one of those who gushed about this lightly raced talent, and by seeing him for the first time on Saturday, I only feel stronger that he is the best young horse I have seen in a long time. He runs fast every time and his impressive stride leaves the others hopelessly behind in the stretch. The closest thing I have seen to Seattle Slew in 34 years, Uncle Mo not only will be named the Champion Two-year-old of 2010, he has established himself as an overwhelming early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Pretty heady stuff for a horse who has run just three times. What road will the Good Uncle travel down on the road to glory? Pletcher’s initial plan is only two prep races for Uncle Mo before heading back to Louisville, saying he wouldn’t mind running his star around one turn in his first race as a 3-year-old. Possibilities for that first race would include two options at Gulfstream Park, the Holy Bull, a one-turn mile on January 29, or the Hutcheson, at seven furlongs on February 26. Owner Mike Repole, a native New Yorker, has already stated that he wants Mo’s final prep for the Run for the Roses to come in New York’s Wood Memorial. With the likely retirement of Zenyatta, American racing is in need of a new hero. I give you Uncle Mo. He is the realest of deals, and while a lot can happen between now and the first Saturday in May, no one in his age group currently comes close to him.

I Want Mo, Mo, Mo

After a performance like this, don‘t we all want Mo, Mo, Mo ? It’s difficult to steal the show on the biggest afternoon at Saratoga, especially if you are running in a maiden special weight, but that is precisely what a juvenile son of Indian Charlie was able to do. Uncle Mo turned in one of the most dazzling debuts of recent years, and he did it in front of a huge crowd on Travers day. The bay colt displayed his total superiority over a well bred field of ten by drawing off with each impressive stride to hit the finish line 14 ¼ lengths the best. Rider Johnny Velazquez stayed busy, but his main task was to just hold on to the $220,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. Bettors believed in the Todd Pletcher trained juvenile right from the get go, as they hammered Uncle Mo down to 4-5 in the maiden race, and should make him even lower in the most prestigious of all two-year-old races in New York. In fact, Pletcher and owner Mike Repole appear to have pocket aces in the hole for Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne, considering they also have entered Stay Thirsty. The son of Bernardini, who was runner-up in the recent Hopeful Stakes, looms as the one obvious threat to the Uncle. If the connections do decide to run Stay Thirsty in the same race as Uncle Mo, they should form an irresistible dynamic duo in Saturday’s race, and quite possibly again four weeks later for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But make no mistake, the Champagne is all about Uncle Mo. How far can he go?  Can he win a grade 1 in only his second start?  How good/great will he become? Answers will soon come, but for now, I want Mo, Mo, Mo.