The one-time heavy favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1), Repole Stable’s
UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), was out for a gallop at Churchill Downs on Tuesday as
the reigning two-year-old champion started his first full day at Churchill Downs
since he returned to the track on Monday.
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who won his first
Uncle Mo was on the track around 6:30 a.m. (EDT) and Pletcher indicated that
Ramos is also the regular exercise rider for R Heat Lightning, and Pletcher
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“Same rider, and he can’t ride both horses,” Pletcher said. “She’s probably
the toughest horse on the grounds to gallop. She’ll appreciate the quieter set
from 8:30 to 8:45, where there’s not going to be as many horses. That’s what I’m
thinking right now, but I haven’t sorted it all out.”
Pletcher said Uncle Mo, who appeared likely to be one of the heaviest
Kentucky Derby favorites in recent years until his third-place finish to TOBY’S
CORNER (Bellamy Road) in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) at Aqueduct, continues to be
treated for gastrointestinal tract infection that was discovered a few days
after that surprise setback. Pletcher hopes Uncle Mo moves forward as he trains
over the track where he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last November.
“I think he’s in the same position that every horse in this race is in, that
they need to have a really good 19 days,” Pletcher said. “Obviously when you
have a gastrointestinal tract infection, you know your appetite is not going to be
as good as you’d like for it to be and that type of thing. So we feel like he’s
making progress and that he’s doing well but, like I said, he’s got to have a
really good 19 days. But so does Stay Thirsty and everyone else.
“Last year Super Saver was awesome for 21 days here. That’s what you need,
and that’s why everything has to fall into place.”
Pletcher-trained three-year-olds Dance City (City Zip) and Brethren
(Distorted Humor), who finished third and 11th, respectively in the Arkansas
Derby (G1), were due in Kentucky Tuesday afternoon on a flight that lands in
Lexington. Dance City and several horses on that flight will travel by van to
Churchill Downs, but Pletcher said Brethren would head home to nearby WinStar
Farm for a couple of weeks rest and is definitely off the Kentucky Derby trail.
He said there was no apparent problem with the half-brother to Super Saver, but
some rest was in order following his run at Oaklawn Park.
“Physically there’s nothing,” said Pletcher. “It was just a disappointing
effort. WinStar’s right there, so they’re going to take him home and give him a
freshening.”
Uncle Mo will work twice at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby, but
Pletcher is not sure at this point when those training moves will be scheduled.
“I want to get two works into him, that’s the only thing I’m thinking about,”
Pletcher said. “If I decide he needs a few extra days, then obviously that’s
going to push the other one back a few days at the other end.”
Pletcher said Dance City is not being considered for the Kentucky Derby
because he does not have enough graded earnings to make the field the maximum
field of 20 horses. He could be pointed toward the Preakness S. (G1), the second
jewel of the Triple Crown, at Pimlico on May 21. He said that Joe Vann (Silver
Deputy), who is not nominated to the Triple Crown but won the recent Illinois
Derby (G3), will probably be pointed to the Peter Pan S. (G2) at Belmont Park on
May 14.
In other Derby and Oaks news:
ARCHARCHARCH (Arch), the surprise winner of last week’s Arkansas Derby, is
Archarcharch trained over the Churchill Downs racing surface during the
Horses that finished behind Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby were scheduled
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Another scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday was the Kentucky
Oaks contender JOYFUL VICTORY (Tapit), winner of the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn
Park. The Larry Jones-trained filly traveled by van from Oaklawn Park and will
be stabled in Barn 43.