altho i wish uncle mo wasn't being handled with such kid gloves, i certainly don't hold it against repole. this sport needs more owners; this guy seems to love the sport, and doesn't mind spending money. he just bought a couple horses at obs. we need him and more like him. owners first, work on more starts next.

Reading here and elsewhere about Mike Repole has made me wonder . . . Let's say for a moment that Mo is the next great horse, that he wins the Derby, and the Preakness, and maybe even the Triple Crown. Given the lauding about Repole's enthusiasm and what I've interpreted as his desire to boost the sport, what does Uncle Mo do for the rest of 2011? Would he campaign him aggressively? In the alternative, if Mo wins "only" one or two of the TC races, and races well through the end of the year and finishes sound, what are the chances that Mo comes back to race as a 4YO?

Partially answering my own first question, I am thinking of Repole repeatedly pointing Uncle Mo to the Wood Memorial for his last Derby prep race, but now backpeddling and saying that he may stay in Florida for the Florida Derby, saying, "It's up to Todd (Pletcher)."

After typing this ^^^^ I've slapped myself back to reality, knowing what Mo would have to achieve to even make my questions relevant. Here's to hoping that Uncle Mo comes up deserving of all the hype, and that then we get to see how Repole responds.

I don't think Comma will stay, but he kept going after dueling ridiculous fractions last week when the other pace horses were looking for a lake to jump into.

Repole said he'd like to keep him running for as long as he is sound and doing well. Who knows though.

As for the type of campaign? I'd run him in the Vanity and Santa Margarita the next 3 years.

Mere mortal horses could never take on such a gruelling schedule.

Thus proving his alltime greatness!

Steve Crist weighs in.

Instead of having to write all that - if Crist had the fancy NFL Draft Combine video technology ... he could have just superimposed Uncle Mo into Tackleberry's race.

I said it before his BCJ win, and thought it was obvious to everyone after the race, but how did people not notice that UM runs easily, relaxed and does exactly what the jockey wants?

Of course he could relax early and finish strongly! He'd already done that in his previous starts!

Pace in the Derby simply will not matter to UM.

It's one thing to relax early and finish strongly when you have no target in front of you - and no dirt is being kicked in your face.

Until he proves he can do the same - from off the pace - while taking dirt in his eyes and nose ... he's still nothing more than a tactically gifted speed horse/stalker.

A lot of plodders and deep closers don't even react well the first time they take dirt kick-back. Look at Jaycito - and Royal Delta had a meltdown at Tampa over the weekend around the 1st turn.

Uh huh.

The actual race he ran was very similar to Dialed In's maiden score.

He was a length behind Valerius after 6f then outfinished him by 4 solid lengths. Given the pace scenario in that race he had ZERO chance to beat his older stablemate. This race WAS solid and he proved it today.

Answer to my question (why haven't I seen this before now):

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ill&id=6301023
:tro:

I really don't get how folks don't warm to Repole. He's like the anti-Iavarone.

Petty jealousies.

Duh.

Those races are too close for Pletcher.

I still wonder why year after year, we're told how so and so is rich and doesn't need the money and is in it for the sport......only to see their horse retired at the end of the year or at the slightest hint of frailty?

yup, a bunch of us called the race a farce ....a joke,.......proved nothing....we all look pretty stupid today,,.....lol

I must have missed the Uncle Mo retirement press release. Just brilliant criticizing the bazillionaire who's new to the racing game and looking to spend dough. From reading some comments here, you'd think Repole is some combination of Mike Gill and Mr. Burns or something.