Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty return to Churchill Downs

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Three-year-old colts Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty both arrived safely at Churchill Downs on Monday morning from New York. Owned by Mike Repole, the two stakes winners are expected to start in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 5.

"Everyone arrived in excellent order," said Michael McCarthy, who oversees the Churchill Downs barn for trainer Todd Pletcher. "They all look great."

Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty were two of the four Pletcher horses who were flown from New York to Louisville Monday. Two-year-olds Stopshoppingmaria and Finale accompanied their older stablemates.

Uncle Mo won the Kelso Stakes at Belmont Park on October 1 in convincing style for the three-year-old's first win since the Timely Writer Stakes early this year at Gulfstream Park.

In 2010 the colt won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to finish the season unbeaten in three starts and was voted champion two-year-old colt. He was third in the Wood Memorial and was entered in the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the Run for the Roses because of an intestinal problem. In his first start back he finished second in the King's Bishop at Saratoga.

Stay Thirsty was 12th in the Kentucky Derby, but would go on to win the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes. On the same program as the Kelso the three-year-old was third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup when facing older horses for the first time.