Uncle Mo: The Next Triple Crown Winner Thread

[Curlin]

With only 2 preps before the Derby? It ain't gonna happen.

[Kennedy]

With only 2 preps before the Derby? It ain't gonna happen.

Two preps won't be the problem as long as he goes around two turns twice. The problem for him will be continuing to develop to the point where he can handle 10 and 12f. There are many more War Passes than Seattle Slews. From a physical standpoint I'm not sure he can do it. I'm not a fan of his build and action. It works for him but it just seems to me like he could struggle going further.

Actually I was very impressed with Boys at Tosconova in the Juvenile. Sure he was given a good beating by Mo but he was still coming at the end and it was a very good race for a horse with just a 7f prep on Labor Day. His breeding doesn't scream 10f either but he's got some serious talent. I think he'll go on and be a big threat at least in the preps.

[1/8-pole]

He looked very impresive but there is still a long time to go. And I am not thrilled with his sire to get the classic distance. Time will tell and I am looking forward to seeing this colt mature.

[Slewfan2]

Two preps won't be the problem as long as he goes around two turns twice. The problem for him will be continuing to develop to the point where he can handle 10 and 12f. There are many more War Passes than Seattle Slews. From a physical standpoint I'm not sure he can do it. I'm not a fan of his build and action. It works for him but it just seems to me like he could struggle going further.

Actually I was very impressed with Boys at Tosconova in the Juvenile. Sure he was given a good beating by Mo but he was still coming at the end and it was a very good race for a horse with just a 7f prep on Labor Day. His breeding doesn't scream 10f either but he's got some serious talent. I think he'll go on and be a big threat at least in the preps.

Still annoyed that To Honor and Serve didn't run in the Juvenile?

[MonmouthGuy]

Two preps won't be the problem as long as he goes around two turns twice.

I agree with you but not a chance that happens. He will run one turn at Gulfstream and then either the Wood or Fla Derby.

[Commentator]

It's been bothering me since the race, but I finally figured out who Uncle Mo reminds me of: Big Brown. Very very fast, questions about pedigree and soundness, and they even move similarly. Big Brown was more physically imposing, but Uncle Mo still has time to grow.

Glad to see that Boys is getting some recognition too. The Juvy was his first time going two turns and beyond 7f. Subtract Uncle Mo from this year, and you have a horse who wins the Juvy by six lengths and earns a 102 and a 103 on the year. This thread would be about him instead. These guys are clearly in a different stratosphere from the rest of the 2yos. Next years should be fun.

[Kennedy]

Still annoyed that To Honor and Serve didn't run in the Juvenile?

Yes, I think that he could have changed the race dynamic and given Uncle Mo a very good race. Plus finishing second in the BC Juvenile is far better than a public workout in the Nashua. It works on many levels. Firstly the class angle. We learned nothing in the Nashua as he was facing horses that are unlikely to have an impact going forward. We also did not get a chance to see him go around two turns or face any quality speed or even get a race over the Derby track.

The BC Juvenile would have been a race where he find out what he's really got under the hood. Instead now we still have to theorize about how he'd do against real horses. As for the Graded stakes earnings Mott was so eager to chalk away tell me that To Honor and Serve is not good enough to run at least 4th in the BC Juve. He got $90k in the Nashua and most likely he would have been 1st or 2nd in the Juvenile. Even 4th was worth $120k.

I still don't like the move from Mott and it didn't work out nearly as well as you may think it did. Winning isn't everything at this point.

[second_glance]

Watchmaker says Uncle Mo and To Honor and Serve are the ones to watch:

http://www.drf.com/blogs/uncle-mo-ho...1-triple-crown

[Slewfan2]

Yes, I think that he could have changed the race dynamic and given Uncle Mo a very good race. Plus finishing second in the BC Juvenile is far better than a public workout in the Nashua. It works on many levels. Firstly the class angle. We learned nothing in the Nashua as he was facing horses that are unlikely to have an impact going forward. We also did not get a chance to see him go around two turns or face any quality speed or even get a race over the Derby track.

The BC Juvenile would have been a race where he find out what he's really got under the hood. Instead now we still have to theorize about how he'd do against real horses. As for the Graded stakes earnings Mott was so eager to chalk away tell me that To Honor and Serve is not good enough to run at least 4th in the BC Juve. He got $90k in the Nashua and most likely he would have been 1st or 2nd in the Juvenile. Even 4th was worth $120k.

I still don't like the move from Mott and it didn't work out nearly as well as you may think it did. Winning isn't everything at this point.

I guess Mott didn't think he was ready to face those horses....so that's good enough for me. I believe he's a very talented horse with tons of quality- that will be sufficient for me going forward into next year. I'm not going to spend time worrying about whether he classes up to Uncle Mo or BAT; I'm just going to look forward to his next race and next year. As to a race over the track, that's no big deal to me either. The colt is going to be pointed for the Derby regardless of whether he hated the track or not, so I'm not sure why it should matter.

I'm glad he has a stakes win now; I have no idea how he would have fared in the Juvenile. That's a good point about the $$$, but I think it just came down to the fact that Mott did not want to push this horse; he's a big colt and, as his assistant trainer said, still green. As good as his maiden win was, it was still just a maiden, so I admit I'm happy with taking it one step at a time. In terms of two turns, we'll find out when he runs in the Remsen.

I appreciate your response, though - thanks!

[LarrytheK]

Uncle Mo's next stop??

[GreenasGrass]

A mile race, after that another Derby prep. Hope you're a praying man Larry because this horse is going to need them to win the TC off that schedule. JMHO.

[pupatariat]

Mo should be retired. Hasn't he done enough already? Is there really anything else left to prove?

[LarrytheK]

Mo's arrived at Palm Meadows in preparation for Triple Crown Trail.

[Starine]

Link:

http://www.drf.com/news/uncle-mo-arr...gin-derby-push

[Matt Converse]

Anyone else notice the Uncle Mo-Blame connection? Uncle Mo's pedigree stock for 10f got a boost on BC day. His damsire is Arch, had sired 10f turf winner Arravale, but added to that with recent 10f dirt winner Blame in the BC Classic. Actually, I think it should be Nephew Mo and Uncle Blame.

[Starine]

Anyone else notice the Uncle Mo-Blame connection? Uncle Mo's pedigree stalk for 10f got a boost on BC day. His damsire is Arch, who had sired 10f turf winner Arravale, but added to that with recent 10f dirt winner Blame in the BC Classic. Actually, I think it should be Nephew Mo and Uncle Blame.

It was mentioned in the breeding forum.

[Horse's Rear]

Yes, I think that he could have changed the race dynamic and given Uncle Mo a very good race. Plus finishing second in the BC Juvenile is far better than a public workout in the Nashua. It works on many levels. Firstly the class angle. We learned nothing in the Nashua as he was facing horses that are unlikely to have an impact going forward. We also did not get a chance to see him go around two turns or face any quality speed or even get a race over the Derby track.

The BC Juvenile would have been a race where he find out what he's really got under the hood. Instead now we still have to theorize about how he'd do against real horses. As for the Graded stakes earnings Mott was so eager to chalk away tell me that To Honor and Serve is not good enough to run at least 4th in the BC Juve. He got $90k in the Nashua and most likely he would have been 1st or 2nd in the Juvenile. Even 4th was worth $120k.

I still don't like the move from Mott and it didn't work out nearly as well as you may think it did. Winning isn't everything at this point.

I kinda disagree for much the same reasons. First of all, I'd be very surprised if Mott doesn't already know more than we are learning about this horse; and it seems to me what we learn is a lot less important than what he learns. Having said that, I would guess--and it's only a guess--that what Mott knows is that this horse runs his best race while racing forwardly; and that what he needs to learn is whether or not he can learn to race forwardly and still have the ability to develop a second half mile as fast or faster than his first half mile. If the answer to that is "yes," it doesn't really matter whether he goes through the Breeders Cup or the Remsen, he's going to be a factor in the Spring. If the answer to that is "no," then it doesn't matter which way he goes, he won't be a factor. But what will be a factor, if the answer is "no" (a much more common answer than "yes") is how many Graded Stakes he has won. I'd say that the route Mott followed added a lot more to his value than going through the Breeders Cup would have, and arguably gave the horse a better opportunity to learn lessons that could pay off well in his effort to develop into the kind of horse who belongs in the starting gate in Louisville.

[dylan28]

It's been bothering me since the race, but I finally figured out who Uncle Mo reminds me of: Big Brown. Very very fast, questions about pedigree and soundness, and they even move similarly. Big Brown was more physically imposing, but Uncle Mo still has time to grow.

Glad to see that Boys is getting some recognition too. The Juvy was his first time going two turns and beyond 7f. Subtract Uncle Mo from this year, and you have a horse who wins the Juvy by six lengths and earns a 102 and a 103 on the year. This thread would be about him instead. These guys are clearly in a different stratosphere from the rest of the 2yos. Next years should be fun.

Big Brown was nothing like Mo. Big brown ran in 1 race, as a 2 year old, a wire to wire maiden win on the turf. He didn't return to the races until 6 months later, in an allowance due to his feet problems. Mo ran 3 times ad a 2- year old, including 2 grade 1's. He hasn't had any soundness issues at all.

[slewgal]

Anyone else notice the Uncle Mo-Blame connection? Uncle Mo's pedigree stock for 10f got a boost on BC day. His damsire is Arch, had sired 10f turf winner Arravale, but added to that with recent 10f dirt winner Blame in the BC Classic. Actually, I think it should be Nephew Mo and Uncle Blame.

It's the only thing I noticed about Uncle Mo, lol.......I hate his name....but he's out of Play Maya.....so I have to like him.

[Man o' Taz]

2 prep races next year before Derby. 5 total. 1 two turn as a 2 year old and 1 2 turn as a 3 year old. Pedigree of a sprinter. No stamina trained into him. Lack of experience.

Those will all stop him from a TC win.

I can agree with you on the fact that I do not think he can go the distance. Like Kennedy, I think his best has been seen as a two year old and THAS is more likely to move forward than Uncle Mo...but the great thing with two year olds is that they do not always live up to expectations...whether they are high or low...