Diane Keba wins chance to meet Uncle Mo

Last updated: 4/6/11 9:14 AM

Diane Keba wins chance to meet Uncle Mo

Uncle Mo, who returned this
year with an easy victory at Gulfstream Park, will spend some time
with fan Diane Keba at Belmont Park on Thursday
(Guy Gustafson/Horsephotos.com)

Diane Keba of Newport, New York, is the winner of the “Get to Know Mo”
contest, an exclusive meet-and-greet opportunity with UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie),
the expected overwhelming favorite in the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at
Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday.

Keba will have the unique opportunity to spend time with Mike Repole’s
undefeated champion Uncle Mo, five-time Eclipse winning trainer Todd Pletcher
and jockey John Velazquez on Thursday at Belmont Park. In addition to the
meet-and-greet, which will occur at approximately 9:30 a.m. (EDT), the contest
also includes a special breakfast at the barn.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to meeting Uncle Mo and I’d like to
thank NYRA, Mike Repole, Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez for making this
opportunity possible,” Keba said. “I think it is great for racing to do things
like this. I was there when Uncle Mo won the Breeders’ Cup, and now I will be
there when he hopefully wins the Wood.”

As part of winning the contest, Keba will also receive VIP treatment on Wood
Memorial Day, including paddock passes and winner’s circle access to watch the
race.

“I’m a racing fan before a horse owner,” said Repole, who was the leading
owner during the 2010 Saratoga Race Course meet. “We are happy to be able to
bring Mo to his friends by way of social networking and fan contests and share
in our excitement over this special horse.”

Uncle Mo had a sensational juvenile campaign, including a 14 1/2-length score
in his debut at Saratoga Race Course, followed by dominant victories in the
Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill
Downs, earning him Eclipse Award honors as 2010’s Champion Two-Year-Old Male.

The Wood Memorial will be his second start of 2011 and his final race before
the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1), for which he is the early favorite. Wood Memorial
Day at Aqueduct also includes also includes the Carter (G1) for sprinters, the
Bay Shore (G3) for three-year-old sprinters, and the Comely (G3) for
three-year-old filly milers.