Any Triple Crown discussion obviously has to begin with Uncle Mo, the sensational three-year-old who tops all standings for the Kentucky Derby at the moment.
Mo, a son of Indian Charlie, out of the mare Playa May, has exceeded all expectations as a two-year-old, most notably taking the Grade I Champagne Stakes and the Breeders Cup Juvenile, the race that stamped Mo as the favorite for the Derby and won him the Two-Year-Old Champion at the Eclipse Awards in January.
If the accolades don't interest you, this might....Uncle Mo LOVES Churchill Downs' track.
As a three-year-old, Mo hasn't raced, yet he has the stamp of approval from a lot of horse players around the world. His price in Vegas keeps dropping, and European odds makers have set him at 4-1. Various bloggers and writers have even mentioned the possibility of Mo becoming the first Triple Crown winner in over 30 years.
What makes Mo even more endearing, especially to the public at large, is his huge social media network. A Twitter-holic and Facebook megastar, the flashy colt keeps his fan base up to date on all things Uncle Mo, including timed workouts, meetings with trainer Todd Pletcher and visits from his owner, Mike Repole. He even snapped a picture of himself before the Eclipse Awards, wearing a tux.
And his larger than life owner is becoming a fan favorite in his own right. Mike Repole, of Vitaminwater fame, is a fan first, owner second; making sure that fans get the access social networking provides, and always available for commentary on his horse. He even writes a blog for Bloodhorse.com, chronicling his love of racing, and the love for his special horse. (But more on him later. This is about Uncle Mo!)
But for all the good that can be said about Uncle Mo, there are some questions that will need to be answered. Indian Charlie, Mo's sire, is known for breeding sprinters; not distance horses. And he has yet to race, while several of his top competitors already have a few races under their belts...and getting better every day. Plus, he will have only two prep races..the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12th and the Wood Memorial on April 9th. While that schedule has worked in the past, one stroke of bad luck, and Mo could be unprepared for the Run for the Roses.
My take? I happen to like him. I like his race style and his connections. So far, he is my feel good pick. Should he do well in his next races, he will deserve the title "Derby Favorite," and I will be behind him 100%.
What is your take on Uncle Mo? Let me know what you think. To help, below is Uncle Mo's last race.
Finding a unicorn
5 years ago
