Mo fires bullet for Kelso; Thirsty stays sharp for Gold Cup

Led by 2010 juvenile champion UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) and Travers

S. (G1) winner STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), trainer Todd Pletcher sent out

a host of stars Sunday morning over Belmont Park's fast training track

in preparation for their upcoming engagements on Super Saturday. For

video of their works, and Pletcher's comments, click

here.

Uncle Mo, who returned to racing after a four-month absence to finish

second by a nose in the King's Bishop S. (G1), zipped through a

seemingly effortless four furlongs under jockey John Velazquez in

:46.57, fastest of 79 at the distance.

"That was faster than I wanted to go," Pletcher said of the Mike

Repole colorbearer, who will be entered in Saturday's Kelso H. (G2) at

one mile.

"It's not what we set out to do, but I think it's an indication of

how well he's doing at the moment," the trainer explained. "We were

looking for a 'final breeze before the race,' a standard :48, :49, and I

think he's just doing so well now that he went a little quicker than

that. It seems like he's moving great and everything he's been doing

since the King's Bishop has been exceptional, so we're pleased with

that."

"They both went probably faster than you want them to go, but Johnny is on

Mo, and I don't think Mo knows the word 'slow,' so :46 for him is :50 for

everybody else," Repole enthused. "There are a lot of distractions (on the

training track) so Thirsty wasn't as focused to begin the work, but down the

lane Javier just gave him a little tick, and all of a sudden you can just tell

he looked good, and his gallop-out was amazing."

Both colts are expected to use their Super Saturday races as preps for the

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Super Saturday offers six graded stakes -- five of them Grade 1s -- worth

$2.7 million, and will be telecast on ESPN Classic and ESPN3.com from 4:30 to

7:30 p.m. (EDT). All six are "Win and You're In" races for the Breeders' Cup at

Churchill Downs on November 4-5.

Also preparing for Super Saturday was LIFE AT TEN (Malibu Moon), most

recently third behind Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) and Havre de Grace (Saint

Liam) in the Delaware H. (G2) on July 16. The multiple Grade 1-winning

millionaire went four furlongs in :49.61 for Saturday's Beldame Invitational

(G1), in which Woodward S. (G1) winner Havre de Grace is expected to be the

heavy favorite.

"She did not work with blinkers today; we were looking for a different kind

of work," Pletcher said. "She is training as well as ever; I've been saying that

all year. I don't anticipate she is going to beat Havre de Grace, but I do think

she will run to her capabilities."

Caixa Eletronica, winner of the Westchester S. (G3) and third in the

Metropolitan H. (G1) this spring, sped four furlongs in :48.84 Sunday, while the

streaking Dark Thunder, a 5 3/4-length hero of his stakes debut in the Island

Whirl S., clocked :49.06.

Pletcher also sent out Repole's STOPSHOPPINGMARIA

(More Than Ready), who is being pointed to the Frizette S. (G1) on

October 8. The filly, a nearly 10-length winner of her maiden race at

Saratoga Race Course on August 14, went five furlongs in 1:01.26.

"It looks like she handled the time since her maiden win very well," the

trainer said. "She's coming into the Frizette the way we hoped."

Turf juveniles CRAZY PARTY (A.P. Indy) and CAPTAIN WEBB (English Channel)

will both work Monday and are under consideration for the Miss Grillo S. (G3)

and the Pilgrim S. (G3), respectively, on October 2, with Schuylerville S. (G3)

victress GEORGIE'S ANGEL (Bellamy Road) being pointed to the Tempted S. (G3) the

same day and ANGEL'S TUNE (High Cotton) possible for the Nashua S. (G2).