Uncle Sigh has half-mile blowout

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Gary Contessa had Uncle Sigh stretch his legs over a muddy Churchill Downs track Wednesday, and the Withers and Gotham stakes runner-up went a half-mile for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby in a quicker-than-anticipated 52.70 seconds. Contessa said he was looking for more of a 54-second move but was elated with the way his colt moved over the surface.

“My God, his body language was great,” Contessa said. “That’s exactly what I was looking for body-language-wise, so I’m very thrilled. Let him open his lungs a little bit.”

With his only victory coming against New York-breds, Uncle Sigh will be a longshot in the Derby. But Contessa is confident that his horse will run well.

“I feel very, very good about being here,” he said. “I just love the way the horse looked. He’s training good, so I’m thrilled.”