Pletcher’s colts all set for the Kentucky Derby – Horse Racing Update
The Todd Pletcher trained colts put in a last effort to be sure of their potential with barely a week remaining before the intriguing Kentucky Derby.
Uncle Mo, after giving a shocking performance in the Wood Memorial made his trainer happy and enthusiastic as he drilled on the sloppy Churchill race track. The drill took place on the May 1, as he worked out with Stay Thirsty.
The colt encountered his first defeat of his career as he finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes on April 9. Prior to that race, the colt managed to take the first spot in all his four starts.
The colt is still receiving treatment for a gastrointestinal infection that was diagnosed on April 13. The colt has been receiving treatment from Dr. Doug Byars. Despite this unfavourable circumstance he breezed the five furlongs in 1:01 3/5. Stay Thirsty
worked the same distance in 1:01 4/5.
Uncle Mo who started behind Stay Thirsty recorded fractions of :12 4/5, :25 2/5, :37 1/5, and :49 1/5. Uncle Mo was made to stress while he was galloping out the six furlongs in 1:14 1/5 and seven furlongs in 1:28.
Uncle Mo was working with regular jockey, John Velazquez. Pletcher was anxious for the colt to have everything according to plan, as the four time Eclipse Award winner as an outstanding trainer of the year, said about Uncle Mo’s condition, “We’ve been able
to train him in two good, solid five furlongs over the track, He hasn’t missed a beat of training and everything indicates to us through his appetite and appearance that he’s responding to the treatment. He’ll have another check-up with Dr. Byers this week.”
He further expresses his enthusiasm about Uncle Mo’s performance by saying, “He hasn’t missed a beat of training and everything indicates to us through his appetite, his appearance that the treatment is working and he’s certainly … a much better horse than
he was when he left Belmont Park two weeks ago.”
His owner also elated over the colt’s performance believes he will be able to regain his title of being undefeated. The colt has had worked before with stable-mate Calibrachoa breezing the five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. The work-out took place on April 26.
Uncle Mo is last year’s champion male and winner of the Grey Goose Breeder’s Cup. The pair also breezed together before the Grey Goose Breeder’s Cup Juvenile in November 6, 2010. Uncle Mo emerged as the most talented crop in this race track which is also
going to host the Kentucky Derby.
The other Todd Pletcher trained Stay Thirsty finished on even terms with Uncle Mo. The Gotham Stakes winner hung onto Uncle Mo every step of the way. He was clocked doing the six furlongs at 1:14 2/5 and the seven furlongs at 1:28 1/5.
Stay Thirsty was being ridden by exercise rider, Fernando Espinoza. He posted fractions of :13, :25 2/5, :37 2/5, and :49 2/5. The three year old does not have an illustrious career like Uncle Mo, but has two wins from six starts. The Repole owned colt was
seventh in the Florida Derby held on April 3.
Stay Thirsty has also recorded a bullet pace work-out earlier on April 24 with three time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel.
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