Kentucky Derby Contenders: Is Uncle Mo In Or Out?
Added on May 06, 2011 by Jack Thurman in
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The Kentucky Derby usually offers plenty of drama though in most years its usually confined to the race itself. This year one of the biggest and most dramaqtic story lines has been the competitive arc of Uncle Mo. He’s gone from Kentucky Derby favorite to out of the race to possibly back in. All indications suggest that his status for the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby will be announced on Friday morning after trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole make the final decision.
A Hollywood scriptwriter couldn’t come up with a story that offered as many dramatic peaks and valleys as Uncle Mo’s three year old season. He started on top of the world as the Kentucky Derby betting favorite–he’s pretty much been considered the horse to beat ever since his win in the 2010 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile. He faced some critcism for skipping more competitive prep races, but his stock really slumped after a third place finish in the Wood Memorial. After post race blood tests it was revealed that he was suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and at that point was all but ruled out of the Kentucky Derby. He’s improved considerably since then, though trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole have gone back and forth about his prospects to race in the Derby.
He’s improved enough that his connections went to the trouble and expense to leave the Derby option open–Uncle Mo drew the #18 start position though his status for the race is still up in the air. Uncle Mo galloped on Thursday and looked good covering 1 1/2 mile but it wasn’t an all out effort. The final call will be made after he’s examined by a team of veterinarians–based on their input trainer Pletcher and owner Repole will decide whether he’s in or out.
Repole discussed the situation on Thursday:
“He’s gotten so much better since the Wood. Whether it’s enough, Todd Pletcher and the vets will make a decision and Mike Repole will live with that decision.”
Repole also said that they’re not trying to drag out the process and make it an equine version of the LeBron James ‘decision’ fiasco:
“This isn’t going to be a Saturday decision. We owe it to the racing fans, we owe it to the public; it’s not our intention to drag this out.”
Even though he’s not officially *in* the race yet, Uncle Mo was opened a 9-2 betting choice on the Kentucky Derby morning line.
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