Uncle Mo diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis

Last updated: 6/3/11 3:45 PM

Uncle Mo capped his
two-year-old season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but was forced to bypass the Derby
(Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

After seven weeks of extensive testing with some of the top equine
internists in the country, Mike Repole, owner of Eclipse Award-winning
juvenile champion UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie), has been given a diagnosis
for the colt, it was announced Friday.

Following a biopsy of the liver and lymph nodes, it was found that
the three-year-old colt, who has been turned out at WinStar Farm near
Lexington, Kentucky, for the past three weeks, has been diagnosed with
cholangiohepatitis.

The team of internists Dr. Bill Bernard, Dr. Doug Byars, and Dr. Tom
Divers issued the following statement:

“Uncle Mo has been diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis. The cause of
how he contracted cholangiohepatitis is unknown. Since Uncle Mo has been
at WinStar he has gained 67 pounds, his blood work is going in the right
direction, his energy level is up and his attitude has improved. We are
optimistic about his prognosis and getting back to the track and
continuing his racing career.”

Uncle Mo was the top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect this year, making his
seasonal bow a 3 3/4-length win in the Timely Writer S. at Gulfstream Park on
March 12. That brought the bay colt’s record to a unbeaten four-for-four, but
signs something was amiss came in his next start, the Wood Memorial (G1), where
he finished third.

The colt was diagnosed with an infection in his gastrointestinal tract
following that race, but continued training for the Run for the Roses. His
connections weren’t so optimistic about his chances on making the race, though,
and the expected decision to scratch came one day before the running of the
Kentucky Derby.

Friday’s announcement raises the strong possibility that Uncle Mo could
return to training.

“As long as Uncle Mo is 100 percent healthy he’ll be sent back to Todd
Pletcher’s barn,” Repole said. “My hope is for him to arrive back with Todd
before August 1.

“I want to personally thank Dr. Bernard, Dr. Byars, Dr. Divers and all of the
other participating vets for their treatment of Uncle Mo. I also would like to
thank the entire racing community from fans to the media for their sincere
concern for Uncle Mo and his health. My number one priority has always been and
always will be the health of this wonderful horse, and though the doctors and I
are optimistic that he will return to racing, Uncle Mo’s progress and health
over the next three months will be the determining factor.”