The one-time heavy favorite for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1), Repole Stable’s
Uncle Mo, 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
Kentucky Derby last year with Super Saver, was on hand at Churchill Downs to
watch Uncle Mo’s earning morning gallop under exercise rider Hector Ramos. He
also watched R Heat Lightning, the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (Grade
1), and Repole Stable’s other Kentucky Derby hope, Gotham S. (Grade 3) winner
Stay Thirsty, gallop over Churchill Downs’ historic one-mile oval.
Uncle Mo was on the track around 6:30 a.m. (EDT) and Pletcher indicated that
would likely be the colt’s training schedule on through the Kentucky Derby on
May 7.
Ramos is also the regular exercise rider for R Heat Lightning, and Pletcher
said the rider’s dual duties would likely mean that she would be on the track
during Churchill Downs’ special post-renovation break training session for Derby
and Oaks contenders in the days leading up to those races. Ramos will probably
climb into the saddle aboard Uncle Mo around the time the track opens for
training each day at 6 a.m.
“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 in the Wood Memorial S. (Grade 1) 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 (Grade 1) 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 and Brethren, who finished third
and 11th, respectively in the Arkansas Derby (Grade 1), 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. (Grade 1), the
second jewel of the Triple Crown, at Pimlico on May 21. He said that Joe Vann,
who is not nominated to the Triple Crown but won the recent Illinois Derby
(Grade 3), will probably be pointed to the Peter Pan S. (Grade 2) at Belmont
Park on May 14.
In other Derby news:
Archarcharch, the surprise winner of last week’s Arkansas Derby, is settling
in familiar surroundings at the Churchill Downs barn of veteran trainer Jinks
Fires. The colt arrived at Churchill around 7:00 a.m. Tuesday after an overnight
van ride from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Archarcharch trained over the Churchill Downs racing surface during the
summer and fall of his two-year-old season and finished as the runner-up in his
career debut over the track in late November. The Arkansas Derby lifted his
career record to 6-3-1-1 with earnings of $832,744.
Horses that finished behind Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby were scheduled
to arrive at Churchill Downs Tuesday afternoon following a flight that lands in
Lexington. The flight originated in California and made a stop in Hot Springs
before heading to Kentucky. They include runner-up Nehro, who will head to
trainer Steve Asmussen’s Barn 33; The Factor, the beaten favorite in the
Arkansas Derby, who will head to trainer Bob Baffert’s stalls in Barn 33; and
the Jeff Bonde-trained duo of Sway Away, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, and
Sunland Derby (Grade 3) winner Twice the Appeal. Both Bonde horses will be
headed to Barn 42.
Another scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday was the Kentucky
Oaks contender Joyful Victory, winner of the Fantasy S. (Grade 2) at Oaklawn
Park. The Larry Jones-trained filly traveled by van from Oaklawn Park and will
be stabled in Barn 43.