A to Z horses – Uncle Mo Unbridled

Retired from racing at four, Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie x Playa Maya by Arch) is already displaying his potential as a Thoroughbred stud.

The Kentucky-bred bay boy is already projecting 2013 progeny totaling over 50.

As a racer, Uncle Mo proved his prowess early under jockey John Velazquez, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old in 2010.

Taking the Wood Memorial in 2011, he was a favorite for the Kentucky Derby until trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole (of Repole Stables) scratched him for illness.
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In eight starts, Uncle Mo racked up five wins, as well as a second and a third.

Uncle Mo is now standing at stud at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, although he is set to move to Australia in a few months. His 2012 stud fees are set at $35,000.

In addition to Uncle Mo, Coolmore’s American stud roster includes Cape Blanco, Dunkirk, Fusiachi Pegasus, Giant’s Causeway, Henrythenavigator, Lookin At Lucky, Majestic Warrior, Munnings, Scat Daddy, Tale Of The Cat, and Thunder Gulch.

Coolmore Australia already lists Uncle Mo, along with such studs as Choisir, Duke Of Marmalade, Dylan Thomas, Encosta De Lago, Excellent Art, Fastnet Rock, Haradasun, Henrythenavigator, High Chaparral, Lookin At Lucky, Musir, Oratorio, So You Think, Spinning World, Starspangledbanner, and Zoffany.

I had the pleasure of visiting with this handsome horse in Pletcher’s backstretch barn at Louisville’s Churchill Downs after the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Mo’s truly a charmer, so we can hardly wait to see what his babies look like next spring.

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Related Items:

Repole sends Uncle Mo to Coolmore’s Ashford stud

Uncle Mo sidelined with hepatitis

Uncle Mo update: Pletcher scratches Derby favorite

Last year’s A to Z post:  Utterly Unbridled

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A to Z horses – Expecting Exciting Entries

E is for enthusiastic expectation, even as equine prospects begin to emerge for the Kentucky Derby, the first gem in horse racing’s famous Triple Crown.

NOTE: This post represents a bit of a departure from my A to Z series of special horses, although these horses may certainly be deemed extraordinary.

The Run for the Roses, set to run on the first weekend in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, has room for 20 three-year-old starters.

Based on graded stakes earnings alone, the current candidates would likely include:

1. Hansen
2. Daddy Long Legs
3. Union Rags
4. Wrote
5. Take Charge Indy
6. Creative Cause
7. Sabercat
8. Hero of Order (not nominated)
9. Daddy Nose Best
10. Secret Circle
11. Dullahan
12. Liaison
13. Prospective
14. Drill
15. On Fire Baby
16. Went the Day Well
17. Rousing Sermon
18. Mark Valeski
19. El Padrino
20. Reveron
21. Isn’t He Clever
22. Optimizer
23. Alpha
24. Trinniberg
25. Castaway
26. I’ll Have Another
27. My Adonis
28. Battle Hardened
29. Brother Francis
30. Gemologist

Of course, a few prep races remain, so the earnings roster is likely to shift somewhat.

Anything can happen in horse racing.

Some of these horses aren’t even in the running for the Derby anymore. Injuries and conditioning strategies kick in, booting prospects from the Derby trail. A few may reemerge for the Preakness or Belmont Stakes.

Trainers and owners can scratch horses in the coming weeks. Jockey changes may occur. Last-minute champions are likely to crop up.

It’s a horse race, after all.

Who do I like best for this year’s Kentucky Derby?

Here are my top 21 favorites, so far. (Yes, someone will surely scratch a horse!) I’m listing them alphabetically, as I’m still sorting out my primo picks.

1. Alpha
2. Bodemeister
3. Creative Cause
4. Daddy Long Legs
5. Dullahan
6. El Padrino
7. Gemologist
8. Hansen
9. I’ll Have Another
10. Liaison
11. Daddy Nose Best
12. Mark Valeski
13. Optimizer
14. Prospective
15. Reveron
16. Rousing Sermon
17. Sabercat
18. Secret Circle
19. Take Charge Indy
20. Union Rags
21. Went the Day Well

This roster is sure to change, perhaps almost daily, until post positions are drawn and the exciting entries line up in the starting gate.

Related Items:

 

• Top 12 reasons the horse racing world needs Baffert back fast
• Rachel Alexandra confirmed in foal to Bernardini
• 2012 Kentucky Derby Prep Races Enter Final Stretch
• Kentucky beauty queens shine at 137th Kentucky Derby

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

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Hansen

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Utterly Unbridled

Utterly Unbridled

(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

U is for Utterly and Unbridled.

Unbridled (Fappiano x Gena Facil by Le Fabuleux) won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1990.

Take a look at Unbridled (grandson of Mr. Prospector) in the 1990 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs:

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Trained by Carl Nafzger, Unbridled also won the Acorn Stakes, the Florida Derby, The Haskell Invitational Handicap, the Louisiana Handicap, the Pimlico Special, the Travers Stakes, the Wood Memorial and more.

Related Items:

Book Review: Beyond the Homestretch

Kentucky Derby Museum's Willie Shoemaker exhibit opens April 25th

Staying On-Track

Undefeated Australian supermare Black Caviar is now 12 for 12
 

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