Uncle Sigh may return to racing in early July

ELMONT, N.Y. – Uncle Sigh, who was scratched June 15 from the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park after being cast in his Belmont Park stall a few days earlier, could return to the races in the first week of July, trainer Gary Contessa said Friday.

Contessa mentioned the Grade 2, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont on July 5, the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth the same day, or an allowance race as possible next spots for Uncle Sigh, the runner-up in the Withers and Gotham stakes this year at Aqueduct. Uncle Sigh has not started since finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby.

Contessa said Uncle Sigh got cast in his stall June 13, two days before the Pegasus. Though the horse seemed to be fine by Saturday, Contessa decided to err on the side of caution.

“He was a hair stiff on Friday. He looked great on Saturday,” Contessa said. “I can’t imagine putting Uncle Sigh on a van to Monmouth Park to run in a graded stakes where he’s going to have to run his ‘A’ race to win with a cloud over him, so I just scratched.”

Uncle Sigh had been jogging until Friday, when he galloped over the Belmont main track.