Sidelined no more, Uncle Mo ready for run at Breeders’ Cup

Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky.

Uncle Mo was supposed to return to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup as a conquering hero. He was the buzz horse coming into the Kentucky Derby, having won the first four races of his career and earning top 2-year-old honors.

But he never made it to the starting gate.

Uncle Mo was knocked out on Derby eve by a serious liver disease. When owner Mike Repole left Louisville in May, he didn’t know if he would ever see his best horse again.

The colt was sidelined for four months because of the illness, leaving Repole, trainer Todd Pletcher and others around Uncle Mo to wonder if it was a race he could win.

Now he appears back on his game.

Uncle Mo got nosed out for the win in the King’s Bishop in August, leaving Repole bummed out.

“I was down because I’ve been on such an emotional ride with this horse,” he said Wednesday. “I wanted that win so bad for Uncle Mo. That was a tough loss.”

The colt bounced back to win the Kelso Handicap by three lengths in his last start, a race Repole called Uncle Mo’s redemption. He’s the 5-2 early favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday even though he’s never run 11/4 miles and faces challengers like filly Havre de Grace, Flat Out and European import So You Think.

“This is Mo’s Kentucky Derby,” Repole said.

“Uncle Mo is the most talented horse in the race. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

He also owns another contender in the 12-horse field — Belmont runner-up Stay Thirsty at 12-1.

“They’re both going to run big races,” Repole said.

They sure did last year. Uncle Mo won the BC Juvenile and Stay Thirsty finished fifth, giving Repole a huge taste of success in his first trip to thoroughbred racing’s richest two days.