UNCLE MO SCHOOLS FOR CHAMPAGNE; DISCREETLY MINE TO MISS BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT

** For video of Uncle Mo schooling at Belmont Park and owner Mike Repole discussing Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6rbslIVbkg **

 

 

Thursday, October 7, 2010

 

Contact: Jenny Kellner

vkellner@nyrainc.com

 

UNCLE MO SCHOOLS FOR CHAMPAGNE; DISCREETLY MINE TO MISS BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT

 

ELMONT, N.Y. – Uncle Mo, the 1-4 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne Stakes for 2-year-olds, had his final schooling session in Belmont Park's paddock Thursday morning under the supervision of trainer Todd Pletcher.

 

Joining the bay son of Indian Charlie in the paddock were stablemates R Heat Lightning and Valiant Passion, two of the four Pletcher fillies, along with Tap for Luck and Maple Forest, entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Frizette. Also on Saturday's Belmont card is the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap for 3-year-old colts on the turf.

 

Uncle Mo is likely to face five others in the one-mile Champagne, his second career start  following a sensational 14 ¼-length maiden win at Saratoga Race Course on August 28.

 

"The good news is I'm real nervous, and he has no idea," said owner Mike Repole. "I'm not going to sleep for the next two nights, and he's going to sleep for the next 20 hours."

 

In other news, Pletcher reported that Grade 1 King's Bishop winner Discreetly Mine would miss the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on November 5 due to a strain of his left stifle joint.

 

"He'll get 60 days rest and then we'll re-evaluate," said Pletcher. "If everything looks good, he'll return to training at Palm Meadows and gear up for next year."

 

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