DIALED IN AND UNCLE MO TOP KENTUCKY DERBY 137 ODDS

Jill Byrne introduces the 137th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks
(Footage and Image : Kentucky Derby)

KENTUCKY DERBY 137
Saturday, 7 May 2011

Robert LaPenta’s G1 Florida Derby hero Dialed In (Mineshaft) and Repole Stable’s reigning Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) are pegged at odds of 4-1 and 9-2, respectively, on Mike Battaglia’s morning line for Saturday’s 137th running of the G1 Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs.

Post positions were drawn late Wednesday afternoon, and the once-beaten Dialed In was assigned post position number eight, with Julien Leparoux to ride. “We are very, very happy with that,” trainer Nick Zito told HRTV. “Owner Bob LaPenta asked me what post I’d like and I said 7 through 11, and we get 8, so I couldn’t ask for more, and we’re certainly happy with the post”, the two-time Derby winner commented.

Nick Zito is pleased with how the colt has settled in at Churchill. “It looks like he’s getting over the track very well and is getting better and better each day,” he offered. “I have a lot of confidence in this horse.”

Uncle Mo is, by owner Mike Repole’s own admission, 50-50 to make the race, and a final decision could come as late as Saturday morning, Repole said in a Tuesday email to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Assuming he goes postward, he will have to overcome the 18 hole, and, with several other on-pace types drawn inside of him, he will either need to be used to get forward enough, or ease back off the pace. In his five career starts, the most the bay colt has ever found himself off the lead is two lengths in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill last November.

“We’d like to get a position similar to what we had in the Juvenile,” trainer Todd Pletcher told HRTV. And as far as the draw? “The 18’s a little further out than I’d like, but it’s not that bad,” Pletcher insisted.

KENTUCKY DERBY 137
FINAL FIELD AND DRAWS

Draw	Horse	Sire	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	ARCHARCHARCH	Arch	William H. Fires	Jon Court	10-1
2	BRILLIANT SPEED	Dynaformer	Tom Albertrani	Joel Rosario	30-1
3	TWICE THE APPEAL	Successful Appeal	Jeff Bonde	Calvin Borel	20-1
4	STAY THIRSTY	Bernardini	Todd Pletcher	Ramon Domiguez	20-1
5	DECISIVE MOMENT	With Distinction	Kerwin Clark	Juan Arias	30-1
6	COMMA TO THE TOP	Bwana Charlie	Peter Miller	Pat Valenzuela	30-1
7	PANTS ON FIRE	Jump Start	Kelly Breen	Rosie Napravnik	20-1
8	DIALED IN	Mineshaft	Nick Zito	Julien Leparoux	4-1
9	DERBY KITTEN	Kitten’s Joy	Mike Maker	Javier Castellano	30-1
10	TWINSPIRED	Harlan’s Holiday	Mike Maker	Mike Smith	30-1
11	MASTER OF HOUNDS	Kingmambo	Aidan O’Brien	Garrett Gomez	30-1
12	SANTIVA	Giant’s Causeway	Eddie Kenneally	Shaun Bridgmohan	30-1
13	MUCHO MACHO MAN	Macho Uno	Kathy Ritvo	Rajiv Maragh	12-1
14	SHACKLEFORD	Forestry	Dale Romans	Jesus Castanon	12-1
15	MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE	War Chant	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	12-1
16	ANIMAL KINGDOM	Leroidesanimaux (Brz)	H. Graham Motion	Robby Albarado	30-1
17	SOLDAT	War Front	Kiaran McLaughlan	Alan Garcia	12-1
18	UNCLE MO	Indian Charlie	Todd Pletcher	John Velazquez	9-2
19	NEHRO	Mineshaft	Steve Asmussen	Corey Nakatani	6-1
20	WATCH ME GO	West Acre	Kathleen O’Connell	Rafael Bejarano	50-1

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

For more information visit :

www.kentuckyderby.com

R HEAT LIGHTNING OUT OF KENTUCKY OAKS

R Heat Lightning by Trippi
(Photo : Drakenstein Stud)

KENTUCKY OAKS (Grade 1)
6 May 2011

In what must be a heartfelt blow to Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstien Stud, R Heat Lightning (Trippi - Yellow Heat), the expected favorite for Friday’s G1 Kentucky Oaks, has been ruled out of the prestigious $1million event for sophomore fillies after heat was discovered in her right knee. “We detected heat in her right knee this morning and she was slightly off at the jog,” reported conditioner Todd Pletcher. “It’s unfortunate. She’s a very talented filly and has been training great. We’ve scheduled an appointment for an evaluation later this week at Rood & Riddle clinic in Lexington.”

E Paul Robsham Stables LLC’s R Heat Lightning had worked a half in :48 1/5 over a fast Churchill strip Saturday. Winner of the G1 Spinaway Stakes last September, R Heat Lightning established herself as a leader of her generation with a 7 1/4-length romp in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream on February 26 and an 8 1/4-length tour-de-force back at the Hallandale Beach oval in the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on April 2.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

PLUCK TO STAND AT VINERY STUD

Click above to watch Pluck winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf…
(Photo : Sky Sports - Footage : Breeders Cup)

PLUCK (USA)
More Than Ready (USA) - Secret Heart (SAF)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr 2, 8f) winner Pluck (2 c Secret Heart, by Fort Wood) is scheduled to stand alongside his sire More Than Ready (USA) at Vinery Stud in Australia following his recent acquisition.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Team Valor-homebred came with a big finish in the straight to land the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf having previously won the Summer Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Woodbine in Canada.

The colt has since been transferred to Graham Motion and could be targeted towards Europe with the Irish 2,000 Guineas a possible option.

A decision as to when Pluck will retire to stud will be made following his three-year-old campaign.

His dam Secret Heart is a stakes winner in South Africa, by Champion sire Fort Wood, and is a half-sister to the Champion South African 3-year-old Filly of 2004, Promisefrommyheart. His granddam Secret Pact is a stakes winning half-sister to champion London News.

UNCLE MO MAGIC IN GREY GOOSE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE

Click above to watch Uncle Mo winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(Photo : Bettor - Footage : Breeders Cup)

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE G1
Churchill Downs, 6 November 2010

Thirty years ago, Mike Repole began going to the track with family members and fell in love with sport, particularly the betting aspect of it.

As his beverage company Glaceau became a huge success as the maker of Vitaminwater, and its subsequent sale to Coca-Cola for a reported $4.1 billion in 2007, Repole got into the owning game.

He established a large claiming stable in New York, then over the last 18 months made a push toward better quality stock. “So many kids growing up want to be football players, and I just wanted to own a special horse,” Repole said yesterday.

Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), who kicked off his career with a gaudy 14 1/4-length in his debut at Saratoga August 29, was giving his owner his first-ever graded stakes win in the G2 Champagne Stakes at Belmont October 9, and was the public’s choice to close out his juvenile campaign unbeaten.

Connections had to be pleased early when the colt broke alertly, but then relaxed well under John Velazquez and sat a chilly second while longshot Riveting Reason (Fusaichi Pegasus) set fractions of 0:23.57 and 0:47.27.

Velazquez took a look under his arm to see what the competition behind him was up to, but it proved a token gesture. Uncle Mo hit the top of the lane with a full head of steam, dispensed with the pacesetter and drew away easily.

“That was as impressive as they get,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “It was an unbelievable performance; crazy fast like he’s been doing all along. He runs really fast for a long time. Johnny pushed the button on the turn and he had another gear. I don’t get goosebumps very often, but I had them today.”

Said Velazquez, “That was definitely special. We had so much hope for this horse, and for him to come out here and do it the way he did it today, that was special.”

Mike Repole called it an incredible experience. “To share with 50 friends and family at Churchill Downs, and probably 10,000 people watching at home, is just amazing,” he said. “It’s just a great, great moment.” Asked if he was allowing himself to dream of the Kentucky Derby next May, Repole responded, “I did that 30 years ago, and I’ve done it every day for 30 years. So I’ll probably do it tomorrow, also.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

BILL FINLEY : SALUTATIONS FROM A SAGE

Autographed photo of A.P. Arrow with Jockey Ramon Dominguez and Trainer Todd Pletcher
(Photo : Bill Finley)

“A.P. ARROW : BIG RACE TEMPERAMENT”

Bill Finley has many irons in racing’s fire. He is one of America’s top journalists, and corresponds for Thoroughbred Daily News and ESPN among others, as well as running his own radio show. He was impressed enough in finding A.P. Indy’s best racing son of 2008 at Summerhill, to send us an autographed photograph of A.P. Arrow at the Dubai World Cup with his Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher, and his jockey Ramon Dominguez. For what it’s worth, A.P. Arrow made the money that evening in the world’s richest horserace, going down just a neck to the following year’s hero, Well Armed.

The photo illustrates the level of concentration that goes into a US$5million purse. Bill’s comments follow:

“I had a wonderful time while visiting the farm and staying at Hartford House. That was one of the best meals I have ever eaten.”

“Thanks so much for providing me with a memorable couple of days.”