Uncle Mo
| Uncle Mo | |
|---|---|
 Uncle Mo (right) battles Caleb's Posse in the 2011 King's Bishop Stakes. | |
| Sire | Indian Charlie |
| Grandsire | In Excess |
| Dam | Playa Maya |
| Damsire | Arch |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 2008 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | D. Michael Cavey |
| Owner | Repole Stable |
| Trainer | Todd A. Pletcher |
| Record | 8: 5-1-1 |
| Earnings | US$1,336,000 |
| Major wins | |
| Champagne Stakes (2010) Timely Writer Stakes (2011) Kelso Stakes (2011) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2010) | |
| Awards | |
| American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (2010) | |
Uncle Mo (foaled March 10, 2008, in Kentucky) is an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse who went undefeated in his two-year-old season.
Racing career
2010: two-year-old season
In his first start, a maiden special weight on the Travers undercard at Saratoga, Uncle Mo led at every call to beat a field of 2-year-olds by 14 1/4 lengths. In his next start, the Grade I Champagne Stakes, he took the lead early and never looked back en route to a 5-length win in the time of 1:34 2/5 seconds—faster than Secretariat's 1972 Champagne win.
In the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Uncle Mo won by four lengths over Grade 1 winner Boys at Tosconova.[1] He was voted the 2010 Eclipse Award as the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.[2]
2011: three-year-old season
As the early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series,[3] Uncle Mo made his 3-year old debut in the Timely Writer, a one-turn mile overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park. After dawdling on the lead for the first three-quarters of a mile, he came home in 22 4/5 for the final quarter.
His next start was the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 9.[4] Running 9 furlongs for the first time in his career, Uncle Mo was defeated by Toby's Corner and finished third.
After his upset at 1-10 odds, he was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection but was still sent to Churchill Downs in anticipation of a start in the Kentucky Derby. After finishing a course of antibiotics, regressing immediately after stopping medication, and losing over 70 pounds in the weeks before the Derby, he was scratched the day before the race.
Sent to Winstar Farm to recuperate and receive attention from top veterinarians, Uncle Mo was diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, a rare liver disease. He began treatment while continuing to rest at Winstar. After gaining back 110 pounds in two months, he returned to trainer Todd Pletcher's barn at Saratoga on July 11, 2011. He resumed training and finished second to Caleb's Posse in the 7-furlong King's Bishop Stakes on August 1, 2011.
Retirement
Uncle Mo was retired from racing on November 10, 2011, shortly after finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Classic. His retirement was prompted due to elevated levels of the liver enzyme GGT, which also occurred earlier in the season and led to a diagnosis of cholangiohepatitis. He began standing at Ashford Stud, the American arm of Irish breeding giant Coolmore, for the 2012 Thoroughbred breeding season,[5] and is now a "shuttle stallion" servicing mares at Coolmore's American and Australian farms.[6][7]
In his first crop Uncle Mo sired three Kentucky Derby starters, Mo Tom, Outwork, and the undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist. Nyquist went on to win the Kentucky Derby.
Race Record
| Date | Track | Race | Distance | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23/2010 | Saratoga | Maiden | 6 Furlongs | 1 |
| 10/9/2010 | Belmont Park | Champagne Stakes | 8 Furlongs | 1 |
| 11/6//2010 | Churchill Downs | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 8 ½ Furlongs | 1 |
| 3/12/2011 | Gulfstream Park | Timely Writer Stakes | 8 Furlongs | 1 |
| 4/9/2011 | Aqueduct | Wood Memorial | 9 Furlongs | 3 |
| 8/27/2011 | Saratoga | King's Bishop Stakes | 7 Furlongs | 2 |
| 10/1/2011 | Belmont Park | Kelso Stakes | 8 Furlongs | 1 |
| 11/5/2011 | Churchill Downs | Breeders' Cup Classic | 10 Furlongs | 10 |
Pedigree
| Sire Indian Charlie |
In Excess | Siberian Express | Caro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Call | |||
| Kantado | Saulingo | ||
| Vi | |||
| Soviet Sojourn | Leo Castelli | Sovereign Dancer | |
| Suspicious Native | |||
| Political Parfait | Diplomat Way | ||
| Peach Butter | |||
| Dam Playa Maya |
Arch | Kris S. | Roberto |
| Sharp Queen | |||
| Aurora | Danzig | ||
| Althea | |||
| Dixie Slippers | Dixieland Band | Northern Dancer | |
| Mississippi Mud | |||
| Cyane's Slippers | Cyane | ||
| Hot Slippers |
References
- ^ Bloomberg Businessweek November 06, 2010
- ^ Daily Racing Form, January 6, 2011
- ^ MSNC, February 14, 2011
- ^ BloodHorse, March 31, 2011
- ^ Grening, David (November 11, 2011). "Uncle Mo retired from racing". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
- ^ "Coolmore Stallions: Coolmore America Roster". Coolmore Stud. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ "Coolmore Stallions: Coolmore Australia Roster". Coolmore Stud. Retrieved January 2, 2013.