I was there in the Churchill Downs press box when Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher conducted their press meeting to break the horseracing revelation that Uncle Mo wouldn't run in the Derby. This story was especially complicated for Repole and Pletcher to deliver considering Uncle Mo's electrifying win in the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile the previous year. Since his electrifying performance in the Juvenile, Uncle Mo had done enough to back up that win to remain the indicated pony in the Derby. He will surely have been the favourite.
At the time of his scratch in the Derby, Uncle Mo had only been partially diagnosed. Nobody was quite sure what was wrong with him. As I sat there in the press box and listened to the bad news I thought to myself that Uncle Mo would never race again. It seemed to me that he had already proven enough and he would have a fair stud career, such that trying to teach him back to full health and racing him again would not be worth the risk of injury in the process.
Horse racing isn't known for its great comeback stories, especially at the level at which Uncle Mo plays. These horses are so well bred, their value is only partially a consequence of their record on the track. Once proven a champion, the value of these horses at stud goes through the roof. The extra price of establishing champ status again and again has questionable value. So coming back from a serious illness or injury to race again isn't seen.
Uncle Mo trained well for and raced well in the Kings Bishop (Gr I) after his lengthy layoff. He raced close to the front then was caught at the wire. This effort was robust, al things taken with all, even though he could not last.
Since the King's Bishop, Uncle Mo continues to train well. This past weekend, he turned in a blistering half mile in 46.57 seconds. He is training for the Kelso (Gr II), where he is likely to be a fave amongst as decent although not strong field.
Should Uncle Mo run well, let alone win, the Kelso, there will be a lot of conversation round his running in the Breeders ' Cup Classic in the autumn. From champion two-year old, to late Derby scratch, back to graded stakes winner is a decent horse-racing comeback story. Does he even need the Breeders ' Cup Classic to stake his claim as one of the best horse racing comeback stories ever?
Yes, he does. So-so comeback stories are roughly as noteworthy as Superbowl or World Series losers. If Uncle Mo's handlers are already ok with racing him after his extended sickness, they should be fine with positioning him in the Breeders ' Cup Classic simply for his shot at redemption. Running in another Breeders ' Cup race is just not the same. Winning a Breeders ' Cup race other than the Classic would be great but wouldn't prove much about the pre-eminence of the pony.
I wasn't a big fan of Uncle Mo in the Derby but I am solidly behind him now. Horse-racing could use some more comeback stories. I would like it if he might be another one.
At the time of his scratch in the Derby, Uncle Mo had only been partially diagnosed. Nobody was quite sure what was wrong with him. As I sat there in the press box and listened to the bad news I thought to myself that Uncle Mo would never race again. It seemed to me that he had already proven enough and he would have a fair stud career, such that trying to teach him back to full health and racing him again would not be worth the risk of injury in the process.
Horse racing isn't known for its great comeback stories, especially at the level at which Uncle Mo plays. These horses are so well bred, their value is only partially a consequence of their record on the track. Once proven a champion, the value of these horses at stud goes through the roof. The extra price of establishing champ status again and again has questionable value. So coming back from a serious illness or injury to race again isn't seen.
Uncle Mo trained well for and raced well in the Kings Bishop (Gr I) after his lengthy layoff. He raced close to the front then was caught at the wire. This effort was robust, al things taken with all, even though he could not last.
Since the King's Bishop, Uncle Mo continues to train well. This past weekend, he turned in a blistering half mile in 46.57 seconds. He is training for the Kelso (Gr II), where he is likely to be a fave amongst as decent although not strong field.
Should Uncle Mo run well, let alone win, the Kelso, there will be a lot of conversation round his running in the Breeders ' Cup Classic in the autumn. From champion two-year old, to late Derby scratch, back to graded stakes winner is a decent horse-racing comeback story. Does he even need the Breeders ' Cup Classic to stake his claim as one of the best horse racing comeback stories ever?
Yes, he does. So-so comeback stories are roughly as noteworthy as Superbowl or World Series losers. If Uncle Mo's handlers are already ok with racing him after his extended sickness, they should be fine with positioning him in the Breeders ' Cup Classic simply for his shot at redemption. Running in another Breeders ' Cup race is just not the same. Winning a Breeders ' Cup race other than the Classic would be great but wouldn't prove much about the pre-eminence of the pony.
I wasn't a big fan of Uncle Mo in the Derby but I am solidly behind him now. Horse-racing could use some more comeback stories. I would like it if he might be another one.
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