Mo Tom remains on schedule for Mineshaft

Mo Tom is up to five furlongs in morning workouts as he prepares for his 4-year-old debut, which is likely to come Feb. 25 in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds.

Mo Tom was one of the leading 3-year-olds last winter at Fair Grounds, winning the Lecomte Stakes and finishing a very troubled third in the Risen Star Stakes and fourth in the Louisiana Derby. Mo Tom ran eighth in the Kentucky Derby, decisively won the Ohio Derby, and then lost his form and wound up his 3-year-old season by finishing fifth in the Super Derby.

Tom Amoss, who trains Mo Tom for Gayle Benson’s GMB Racing, struggled to keep ample weight on Mo Tom last winter, but the colt, by Uncle Mo, has matured and filled out since he last raced.

“He just looks so much stronger now,” Amoss said.

Mo Tom has worked three times at Fair Grounds, most recently going five furlongs Jan. 13 in 1:01.60.

Mo Tom could be part of an interesting field in the Mineshaft, which also could mark the 2017 debut of Eagle and is expected to draw the promising 4-year-old December Seven.