Uncle Mo Pointed to Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park instead of the million dollar pursed Pennsylvania Derby
The 2010 3-year-old champion, Uncle Mo, will probably make his next start in the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park on 1 October, 2011.
Coming back from a 5 month layoff due to a liver related injury, Uncle Mo and trainer Todd Pletcher were hoping for a winning return to the races, when he entered his champion colt in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga’s dirt course on 27 August,
2011.
He was nearly there, but it isn’t good enough when you lose by a nose.
Caleb’s Posse was Uncle Mo’s tormentor in the seven furlong test, but the way he ran the race after such a long layoff, his connections should be highly pleased with the effort.
Fingers crossed, and now he will “most likely” make his next start in the Grade 2 $200,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on 1 October, 2011.
The information about Uncle Mo’s next start was sent out by owner Mike Repole on 8 September, and he further described why him and trainer Todd Pletcher thought Kelso at Belmont Park made more sense than any other race.
After 140 days long layoff, Uncle Mo had to endure the distance of seven furlongs at the King’s Bishop Stakes, and both owner and conditioner gradually want the 3-year-old colt to find his favoured distance after recovering from his ailment.
The Kelso Handicap runs over a distance of 1 mile, and the one turn race would be more suitable for the colt then the $1million Pennsylvania Derby which oppose to is run at 1 1/8 miles.
Mike Repole further said that, opting out of the longer distance does not suggest that they will prevent Uncle Mo from running in the 1 ¼ mile Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs which will be held on 5 November, 2011.
Owner Mike Repole exclaimed with great relish when he further justified the decision, that the spacing between the races is perfect for Uncle Mo, because the time from his last race to the Kelso Handicap is 5 weeks, and another 5 for the his next possible
race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
With ample amount of time between races, who is to say Uncle Mo won’t come back to his own, especially the way he came back in spectacular fashion in the King’s Bishop Stakes.
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