Uncle Mo fires a bullet and Stay Thirsty works half a mile at Belmont Park ahead of the Classic
Mike Repole owned 3-year-old colts Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty returned to the work tab since 1 October, 2011, ahead of their Breeders’ Cup starts and the pair of sophomores are pointed to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on 5 November,
2011.
Both colts are trained by Todd Pletcher, as the son of Indian Charlie, the 2010 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo covered five furlongs in a bullet 58.64 seconds, which turned out to be the fastest out of 32 works over the same distance.
On the other hand, the Grade 1 Travers and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes winner, Stay Thirsty turned in a work session of half a mile in 48.62 seconds, both colts worked on the training track at Belmont Park on 16 October, 2011.
Out of Playa Maya by Arch, Uncle Mo returned to the races after being sidelined for nearly four months, while the champion recovered from a live ailment.
His comeback race was the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga on 27 August, 2011, at about seven furlongs, where he came agonizingly close to winning it, but Caleb’s Posse nosed him out mercilessly t win the race.
Then he was sent to his favourtie Belmont Park track to race in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap, where he showed glimpses of his old self, as he bagged the race with a huge margin and got back to winning ways.
The son of Bernardini, Stay Thirsty’s work wasn’t as flashy as that of his stable mate, but both owner and trainer were happy with what they saw.
Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo are going to be running over a distance of 1 ¼ miles in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Uncle Mo is coming off a seven furlong dash and a mile test.
It is important for both trainer and owner to ensure that the colt is fit for such a massive distance, but after 16 October they must feel good because they have taken a huge step in that direction.
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