Uncle Mo Turns in Sharp Five-Furlong Move

Repole Stable’s 2-year-old sensation Uncle Mo  , a 14 ¼-length maiden winner on Aug. 28, headlined a gaggle of Todd Pletcher trainees on the Belmont Park work tab Sept. 19.
 
Working in company with 4-year-old Join in the Dance, Uncle Mo, an Indian Charlie colt, zipped five furlongs in 1:00.04, the second-fastest of 32 moves at the distance. He is being aimed at the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont on Oct. 9.
 
“In most cases, with 2-year-olds, there is a progression from their first to their second races,” said Pletcher. “But he kind of got there real quick. It’s not very often you have a maiden winner pointing to a grade I where you are hoping they run as well as they did in their maiden race.”
 
In addition to Uncle Mo (which is slang for momentum), Pletcher sent out a trio of fillies, all of whom are under consideration for the grade I Beldame on Oct. 2.
 
Life At Ten, whose six-race win streak was snapped when she finished third in the Personal Ensign (gr. I), and multiple grade I winner Devil May Care both went five furlongs in 1:00.06. Awesome Maria, who returned from an 11-month layoff to win the Riskaverse at the Spa on Sept. 2, breezed a half-mile in :49.50.
 
Other notable Pletcher works included Rose Catherine (4f, :50.01, inner turf), Interactif (4f, :52.06, inner turf), and Exhi   (5f, 1:00.47).
 
Pletcher said that Woodward Stakes (gr. I) winner Quality Road  , pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 6, will likely return to the work tab next weekend.