Uncle Mo, R Heat Lightning settle in at Saratoga

On Sunday morning at Belmont Park, Pletcher had mentioned that a possible

next start for Uncle Mo is the King's Bishop (G1) on Travers Day, August 27, at

Saratoga.

"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 (on March 12 at Gulfstream Park) off six breezes. We're in a

position to get close to that, if we want to.

"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.

"It's a very wide-open division right now," Pletcher observed, "so somebody

can take charge of it and finish up the year strongly and make a strong case.

"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."

Also coming off the van with Uncle Mo was E. Paul Robsham Stables' R HEAT

LIGHTNING (Trippi), who has not run since the Gulfstream meet. After winning the

February 26 Davona Dale (G2) and April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) by a combined

15 1/2 lengths, R Heat Lightning had also been sent to WinStar, where she had a

chip removed from her right knee.

"She looked good, too," Beckman said. "She'll probably be slower to come

back. She's not quite there yet. It will take a little bit longer to get her

ready. We'll take our time with her."