Uncle Mo Surgery Conspiracy

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Linny

NOTHING gets out of the Pletcher barn that TAP doesn't want to get out of the Pletcher barn. Todd never ever wants to admit that any horse in his barn has had any vet care other than routine worming and vaccinations. Knowing what a steel trap that operation is, I'm not shocked at all. I spoke last year with a friend of a friend who used to work for TAP. I was amazed at stories I head than never went public, stuff even Grening didn't know and he knows the NY shedrows better than any reporter.
Let me state that the stuff I heard was NOT about anything illegal. I'm just talking about routine stuff like "Oh, THAT filly, she bowed in training and has a 2yo and a yearling now...or that colt was gelded and is in training at Retama now." These were prominent enough horses that their sudden absence would have raised a red flag.
The tradition in racing is that the horse belongs to it's owner, no matter how the internet wants to make certain horses "the people's horse." Owners/trainers are NOT obligated to disclose every time a top runner gets a runny nose or a bruise. That said, I do agree with NTamm. The trainer/jockey looked pretty bad in the wake of the LAT/BCDistaff situation. I saw Mo in the paddock and he looked as quiet as an old hack, but I have never seen him up close in the paddock before. That could be his typical demeanor. When hundreds of thousands are being bet in futures it would seem like if a horse that has been compared in print to Seattle Slew had surgery last fall, that maybe the public would want to know.

Well, that all at least makes some sense. TAP an over the top control freak could explain things.

[tector]

Whatever the story, I don't want to bet Mo in the Derby. It wouldn't be the first time horse won the Derby without me.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by tector

Whatever the story, I don't want to bet Mo in the Derby. It wouldn't be the first time horse won the Derby without me.

I don't know. He could be the third choice, after Dialed In and The Factor.

He'd be excellent value.

[Echo Farm]

This will ease your collective minds:

Two things I know for sure. Uncle Mo will win the Derby and The Factor will be no factor in May.
Draynay 13 Apr 2011 1:41 AM

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse...cry-uncle.aspx

Case closed.

[Echo Farm]

Seriously,

Any vets or trainers who can explain the shaved area? For what reason is that area normally shaved?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/easygoer/5606219087

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Echo Farm

Seriously,

Any vets or trainers who can explain the shaved area? For what reason is that area normally shaved?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/easygoer/5606219087

ultrasound of area, or take joint fluid out to examine (infection, inflammation, etc), or injection. Not a big deal.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Riot

ultrasound of area, or take joint fluid out to examine (infection, inflammation, etc), or injection. Not a big deal.

That doesn't look very close to the ankle anyways.

At least to me.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

ultrasound of area, or take joint fluid out to examine (infection, inflammation, etc), or injection. Not a big deal.

No big deal on a normal horse but a big deal on the undefeated Derby favorite.
Don't you think that an issue that warranted an ultrasound or joint injection of any kind is a pretty significant at this point especially considering the horses abnormally light racing and training schedule?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Riot

ultrasound of area, or take joint fluid out to examine (infection, inflammation, etc), or injection. Not a big deal.

It's actually kind of odd to see a shaved area on a racehorse. We'd see a lot more hairless patches out there if every horse that had undergone such procedures had been clipped.