The connections of unbeaten Uncle Mo, last year’s champion 2-year-old male, announced on Tuesday that their first choice for Uncle Mo’s 2011 debut is the Timely Writer Stakes, scheduled for March 12 at Gulfstream Park.
For the first time since 2005, the Triple Crown will be under one roof, with NBC Sports Group announcing Tuesday that it has re-acquired the rights to the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes through 2015, mirroring an agreement it previously had in place with the Kentucky Derby.
Archarcharch showed talent to win his maiden in a stakes race back in December, and his abilities were evident again on Monday when he overcame trouble and put in a sustained, four-wide bid to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest by a length over favorite J P’s Gusto.
Archarcharch pulled a 14-1 upset Monday over favored J P’s Gusto in the 46th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Indian Winter, who was scratched from the San Vicente a little more than an hour before the race on Sunday because Jerry Hollendorfer, his trainer and co-owner, thought the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main trackwould compromise Indian Winter’s chances, is headed out of town. Indian Winter will run Saturday in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix.
Uncle Mo has continued training forwardly for his 3-year-old debut, which could come in the Timely Writer. The undefeated 2-year-old champion had his first five-furlong breeze this winter early Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, completing the distance in 1:01.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 under jockey John Velazquez.
Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo returned here Monday from Fair Grounds, where they captured the Grade 2 Risen Star on Saturday. The victory elevated Mucho Macho Man back into the Kentucky Derby picture, following his somewhat disappointing fourth-place finish behind Dialed In in the Holy Bull.
Shackleford has potential, is in the hands of an excellent horseman, and shows an affinity for the Gulfstream oval. His next start is scheduled for Saturday in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes
Mont Pelato, trained in Bordeaux, France, by Christophe Ferland, is one of just seven foreign-trained horses nominated to the Triple Crown.
Clubhouse Ride, among the top 3-year-olds in California, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Craig Lewis announced Monday morning at Santa Anita.
