Uncle Mo is back. The horse, a heavy Triple Crown favorite before being sidelined by an illness, is now the favorite for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Redemption is just 11Ú4 miles away.
Racing fans wanted Uncle Mo to be the next superhorse. He was 4-0 before he finished third in the Wood Memorial on April 11, a baffling result until a liver ailment was discovered. As a result, three awful horses split the worst Triple Crown series in nearly two decades while Uncle Mo recovered.
Uncle Mo — you could have been an immortal.
But the 3-year-old colt — whose stud career might begin after this race — has since returned with a loss by a nose and an easy victory that didn’t even require the whip. Now he faces the world’s best in the $5 million race, the feature of the Breeders’ Cup card at Churchill Downs.
Uncle Mo’s best chance is to steal the race early. He has wire-to-wire speed, so it would be better to let Havre de Grace and To Honor and Serve chase him rather than attempt to outkick either. With just two recent races, his stamina might not survive a stretch duel.
Havre de Grace, named for the northern Maryland town that was a racing epicenter in the first half of the 20th century, is a filly trying to win horse of the year. Havre de Grace should be in a different race that she would win easily, but then she might not earn overall honors. After beating males in the Woodward Stakes, Havre de Grace is a serious threat, so look for her late.
To Honor and Serve also missed the Triple Crown before he returned to win the Pennsylvania Derby. His biggest problem is that he drew the outside No. 13 with Uncle Mo at No.?12. That means To Honor and Serve can’t cross over the field to take the lead quickly, and he might not be able to come from far back considering he’s never run worse than third in a race. That post is a killer, but maybe To Honor and Serve can rally for a share.
Ruler On Ice is a great long shot play at 20-1. The Belmont Stakes winner has lost three straight, but his versatile running style could steal the race if the outside favorites are compromised. Watch the tote board and throw a saver bet on him if he’s at least 20-1.
Meanwhile, Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford is the fifth choice in the Dirt Mile. He posted a pair of respectable seconds in four losses since the Triple Crown race at Pimlico. Shackleford will be pressed to win the Dirt Mile, but keep him in triples.
Union Rags should be the 2012 Kentucky Derby favorite once he wins the Juvenile. The colt drew off in the Champagne Stakes and improves with distance. He’s the clear standout of a mediocre field.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
