LOUISVILLE, (Reuters) – The Kentucky Derby lost one of its major drawcards yesterday when Uncle Mo was scratched from the $2.2 million classic on the eve of the race because of a mystery illness.
Uncle Mo’s trainer Todd Pletcher decided to withdraw the colt after consulting with three veterinarians who could not work out exactly what was wrong with him.
“I am very, very, very, very disappointed about this. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse as good as Uncle Mo,” said Pletcher, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Super Saver.
“We’ve had every resource to try to get this horse right but we’re not there and I take this as a personal failure.”
Uncle Mo was the early favourite to capture the first leg of the Triple Crown after establishing himself as last year’s best two-year-old in North America, capping an unbeaten season with a breathtaking win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on the same Churchill Downs track as Saturday’s race.
But things suddenly started to unravel last month when he was beaten in the Wood Memorial and later diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection that was treated with antibiotics. His connections remained hopeful he would recover in time for the Kentucky Derby and paid the late entry fee for him to be included in the final field of 20 runners but there were still some lingering concerns.
Bookmakers listed him as the second favorite at 9-2, behind Dialed In, even after he drew an unfavourable post position.
But the connections decided to scratch him from the mile and a quarter race in the hope that he can rebound and race later this year, possibly in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“The real problem here is that we’re in a grey area. It just isn’t clear,” Pletcher said. “We’re not sure what it all means. I just didn’t feel that this horse is right.”
Owner Mike Repole, a wealthy New York businessman who had flown 95 friends and family to Kentucky to watch Saturday’s Derby, said he supported Pletcher’s decision.
“We brought in the best vets you can get and they are baffled. We can’t find an answer,” said Repole, who has another horse, Stay Thirsty, running in the Derby.
“I know I’m lucky I’ve got another horse to run in the race and we’ll hope he can step up but our thoughts are with Uncle Mo. We want to find out what’s wrong with him and get him right; get him back.”
