Stay Thirsty, Uncle Mo gear up for Travers Day with fellow Pletcher pupils

Stay Thirsty, Uncle Mo gear up for Travers Day with fellow

Pletcher pupils

"He looks the same mentally and physically as he did before the Jim Dandy,"

the rider added. "I

worked him before the Jim Dandy and that work was amazing. He did it the same

way today."

Pletcher agreed with Castellano's assessment ahead of the

Mid-Summer Derby.

"Stay Thirsty looked really good. It was almost an identical work to what he

did before the Jim Dandy," the horseman commented. "A good steady progressive

1:01 and change with a strong gallop out, moving really well. We were very

happy.

"Based on the work this morning, I would say he is as good as he was (going

into the Jim Dandy), if not better going into (the Travers). He has always run well here and seems to have really flourished since we

have been up here."

Stay Thirsty has yet to finish worse than second while running in New York,

but has been in the shadow of his more ballyhooed stablemate Uncle Mo for much

of the season. He roared into Travers contention with a four-length romp in the

Jim Dandy on July 30 and, prior to that, just missed by three parts of a length

to fellow Travers contender Ruler on Ice (Roma Ruler) in the Belmont S. (G1).

Uncle

Mo, honored as champion juvenile following an unbeaten 2010 season that included

wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Champagne S. (G1), continued

readying for his comeback in Saturday's $250,000 King's Bishop S. (G1) by

breezing five furlongs in :59 4/5 with jockey John

Velazquez aboard.

The pair came onto the Saratoga main track at shortly after 6 a.m. (EDT), a

few minutes before Stay Thirsty, and went out with Curlin S. scorer TURBO

COMPRESSOR (Halo's Image). Uncle Mo pulled past his workmate at the wire,

galloping out strongly after posting splits of :12 2/5, :24 1/5 and :36.

Uncle Mo's breeze was the third-fastest of 41 at the distance, while Turbo

Compressor, third in the Pegasus S. (G3) two back, logged a final time of 1:00 1/5.

"I thought it was another very good work," Pletcher said. "I worked

quite a few horses in the first set and the track is pretty consistent to the

way it's been playing, which is somewhat demanding and not real fast, but he

seemed to handle it real well. He finished up good and galloped out strongly, so

I think we are right on schedule."

Uncle Mo was considered the favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite

suffering his first career loss when third in the Wood Memorial (G1) on April 9.

That would turn out to be his last start, though, as owner Mike Repole and Pletcher

scratched him the day before the Derby due to what was later diagnosed as a rare

liver disorder.

Uncle Mo did not return to training until July and, including Sunday's move,

has posted six works.

"I don't think he could be training any better," Pletcher said. "Based on the workmates he has been breezing with, all indications are he is

a very fit horse."

Among others working for Pletcher on Sunday on Saratoga's main track was

Grade 1 conqueror SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), who logged five-eighths in 1:00

2/5. The conditioner said the next start for Sidney's Candy, winner of the

Fourstardave H. (G2) on the grass last out, was still undecided.

"The Forego (going seven furlongs on September 3) is a possibility, as is the

Woodward ([G1] at 1 1/8 miles on the same day)," Pletcher said. "Most likely his next start will be on dirt."

New Orleans H. (G2) hero MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song), runner-up by a

neck in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) but off-the-board in the Whitney H. (G1),

readied for the Woodward by covering a half in :48 3/5.

Multiple Grade 3 scorer RULE (Roman Ruler), who has also

been mentioned as possible for the Woodward off a neck win in the August 4

Birdstone S., traveled four furlongs in :48 1/5.

Churchill Downs S. (G2) and Commonwealth S. (G2) star AIKENITE (Yes It's

True) clocked a half-mile in :48 1/5 for the Forego.

Unbeaten Schuylerville S. (G3) winner GEORGIE'S ANGEL (Bellamy Road) worked five furlongs in 1:01

3/5 as she continues preparations for the Spinaway S. (G1) on September 4.

Prioress S. (G1) queen HER SMILE (Include), fourth in the Test S. (G1) most

recently, turned a half-mile :52 2/5 with an

eye on the Victory Ride S. (G3) on Travers Day.

Multiple Grade 2 vixen HILDA'S PASSION (Canadian Frontier), unplaced in the

Bed o' Roses H. (G3) last out, stepped five furlongs in

1:00 1/5 for the Ballerina S. (G1), also on Travers Day.