Grand Mo the First will make the switch back to turf

Grand Mo the First is scheduled to make his first start since the Kentucky Derby next month and will be moving back to turf for an upcoming stakes at Gulfstream Park, according to his trainer, Victor Barboza Jr.

The $95,000 Bear’s Den for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf Aug. 3 is the target for the horse, Barboza said Friday. Grand Mo the First was scheduled to have breezed on Tapeta on Saturday.

The horse was freshened after finishing 18th in the Kentucky Derby on May 4. Prior to the start, Grand Mo the First was third in both the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 and the Florida Derby on March 30.

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Barboza said three starts over a month and a half period was demanding and Grand Mo the First has benefited from the downtime.

“Now, he’s had two months,” he said. “He’s fresh. His next start will be on the turf.

“The family has run very well on the turf. The horse responded good on the dirt for entering in the Derby, but I need to try again on the turf.”

Grand Mo the First has made one start on the grass, and ran in third in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach last year at Santa Anita. He had won back-to-back starts on Tapeta at Gulfstream before shipping to Southern California.

Grand Mo the First had been under consideration for the Dwyer at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct, but weather interrupted his training. The son of Uncle Mo races for Granpollo Stables.

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