After days of answering questions about the health of Kentucky Derby (Grade
1) favorite Uncle Mo, trainer Todd Pletcher was optimistic on Tuesday following
a five-furlong work at Churchill Downs that was the colt’s first serious
training move since his stunning defeat in the Wood Memorial S. (Grade 1) on
April 9.
Uncle Mo stepped on the sloppy Churchill Downs surface when the gates to the
track opened for training at 5:45 a.m. (EDT) and worked five furlongs in 1:01
4/5. The juvenile champion colt worked in company with older stablemate
Calibrachoa and worked in fractional splits of :13 1/5, :25 2/5 and :37 2/5.
Uncle Mo, who worked under jockey John Velazquez on the outside of Calibrachoa,
finished just ahead of his workmate and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 3/5.
“Uncle Mo worked very well,” Pletcher said. “He looked like he handled the
surface very well. The time was sort of in the range of what we were looking
for. He came back very well.”
Pletcher said Uncle Mo continues to respond to treatment for a
gastrointestinal inflammation discovered after the Wood.
He said there were signs in the “last 96 hours” that Uncle Mo was “back to
his old self” as the Kentucky Derby draws near.
“I think this morning’s work was an indication he was in good form. I was
particularly pleased with the way he finished his work. He didn’t need to be
asked at all. When he was pulling up on the backside a couple of gallopers went
by him and he grabbed the bridle again. He seemed really, really good this
morning.”
Pletcher said Uncle Mo’s final pre-Kentucky Derby work would likely come on
Sunday or Monday.
Stay Thirsty, winner of the Gotham
S. (Grade 3),
galloped over a track that was rated good during the 15-minute training period
after the maintenance break that is devoted to Derby and Oaks contenders. It was
his first trip to the track since a strong five-furlong work on Sunday.
Pletcher said Stay Thirsty’s final pre-Derby work would likely come on
Sunday.
“I think every day is critical for every horse that’s here,” Pletcher
said. “As we all know from the Eskendereyas and I Want Revenges
(likely Derby favorites in the last two years who were scratched pre-race due to
injuries) how things can
go from day to day to day. We’re pleased with every day that he’s (Uncle Mo)
has had here and pleased with every day Stay Thirsty’s had here. But while it’s
getting close, there’s still a long way to go”
Later in the day owner Mike Repole announced that Ramon Dominguez would ride Stay
Thirsty. Dominguez has been aboard for the colt’s last two starts.
In other Derby news:
Santiva
breezed a half-mile in company in :49 1/5 over a
track labeled as good with Brendan Walsh up after the morning renovation
break.
Working in company with Shotgun Shine, Santiva produced fractions of
:12 4/5, :24 3/5, :36 2/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 1/5. The move was
the 18th fastest of 42 at the distance.
“He had a nice breeze after the break and the clockers said the track
was a little slower after the break than first thing this morning,” trainer
Eddie Kenneally said. “We may do something similar to this next week.”
Shaun Bridgmohan, who rode the colt to victory in last fall’s Kentucky
Jockey Club S. (Grade 2) at Churchill, has the Derby mount.