Uncle Mo has first workout at Saratoga

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Champion colt Uncle Mo returned to the track Friday morning with a workout at Saratoga Race Course. The 2010 champion two-year-old colt has been recovering from an illness that kept him out of this year's Kentucky Derby.

The three-year-old, with exercise rider Patti Krotenko in the saddle, went three-furlongs in 38.4 seconds and galloped out four-furlongs in 51.62 seconds.

"It was perfect," said trainer Todd Pletcher who watched the work along with Uncle Mo's owner Mike Repole. "I told Patti to go between 37 and 39 (seconds), and he went in :38 2/5 and galloped out in 51, so it was exactly what we were hoping for today."

The colt has not started since finishing third in the Wood Memorial more than three months ago. He was diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, a liver disorder. He spent time recuperating at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.

"He's a different horse. He's the horse he was when he was a two-year-old," Repole noted. "He's been here for over a week now and gained five more pounds with heavy training. His blood work keeps improving every single day, which is great. It's nice to see him out there.

"It's kind of d?j? vu. Last time I saw him running down the stretch at Saratoga he was winning by 14 1/2 lengths in his maiden, and today it looked like there was a horse 15 lengths behind him. It's a good day. It feels like I won a big race today and it was only a three-furlong work."

Uncle Mo, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is likely to make his next start in Saratoga's $250,000 King's Bishop Stakes at seven furlongs on Saturday, August 27. The Eclipse Award winner has won four of five career starts for $1,436,000.