Repole Stable’s Uncle Mo continued to progress toward an anticipated start in the Aug. 27 Foxwoods King’s Bishop (gr. I) at Saratoga, working five furlongs Aug. 3 in 1:02 4/5 under exercise rider Patty Krotenko.
With trainer Todd Pletcher looking on from the grandstand, Uncle Mo backed up to the mile pole accompanied by a stable pony, and after standing for a few moments, turned and jogged to the middle of the clubhouse turn before being let loose. New York Racing Association clockers caught the Indian Charlie colt in opening splits of :12 2/5, :25, and :37 4/5, galloping out six furlongs in 1:16 1/5.
“I thought he went very well,” said Pletcher of last year’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner and champion 2-year-old male. “Everything so far is going exactly like we had planned. I’m really, really pleased with his progress. He’s obviously gotten a little bit fitter with each piece of work. Every kind of increase in distance we’ve taken, he’s handled very well. In particular, his gallop-outs have been very good.”
With the King’s Bishop as a target, Pletcher said Uncle Mo will probably have a more aggressive work the week of Aug. 15 for the seven-furlong race.
“Right now, we’ll probably come back next Tuesday (Aug. 16) if everything goes smoothly, and maybe be a little more aggressive, five-eighths in company, and go from there,” he said.
The King’s Bishop would be Uncle Mo’s first start since his third-place finish in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 9, which was his first loss.
Subsequently scratched from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a rare liver disorder, Uncle Mo recuperated at WinStar Farm and began galloping last month. This morning’s breeze was his third at Saratoga since July 22.
