|
Uncle Mo to rejoin Pletcher at Saratoga; champ could make
King's Bishop
 |
| Trainer Todd Pletcher believes that Uncle Mo can re-assert divisional leadership
(Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Mike Repole's UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), who is expected to depart WinStar
Farm Monday and join trainer Todd Pletcher's string at Saratoga, could make his
return to the races in the King's Bishop (G1) on Travers Day, August 27,
Pletcher said Sunday morning.Named last year's champion two-year-old colt, Uncle Mo was scratched from the
Kentucky Derby (G1) as the 9-2 morning-line second choice and was later found to
have cholangiohepatitis, a severe inflammation of the bile passages and adjacent
liver. The seven-furlong King's Bishop would be Uncle Mo's first start since his
third-place finish as the odds-on favorite in the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct
in April.
"He's been galloping (at WinStar) for a little while already," Pletcher said.
"We don't need any hiccups along the way, but (the King's Bishop) is doable if
everything goes well.
"He left Churchill a very fit horse; he just wasn't completely healthy. He
got ready very quickly after he came back from the Breeders' Cup and won the
Timely Writer (at Gulfstream Park in March) off six breezes. We're in a position
to get close to that, if we want to."
|
Pletcher expressed satisfaction with the progress Uncle Mo made during his
convalescence at WinStar.
"We've seen a steady stream of videos of him, so it's not like we hadn't
known what he's looking like or doing," Pletcher said.
"He has a bright, glossy coat -- something we hadn't been able to achieve
before. He's put on weight and his blood work is normal. Those were the things
that were frustrating us this spring."
With separate horses winning each leg of the Triple Crown, Pletcher believes
the three-year-old championship is still up for grabs.
"It's a very wide-open division right now, so somebody can take charge of it
and finish up the year strongly and make a strong case," Pletcher said.
"I've felt Uncle Mo is the best of his generation. Now we just have to come
back and see if that's true or not."
Send this article to a friend
| 
