Different Complexion to 2011 Kentucky Derby

With the dramatic tail-off we saw on Saturday when Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) was outrun in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, the 2011 Kentucky Derby immediately took on a much different look than we had seen over the previous few months. The Mike Repole-owned colt was already being crowned one of the best American horses of all time - and that was all just based off of a rousing score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. 

 

Never mind that Indian Charlie's offspring are better suited to sprints and mile races - everybody was going all-in on Mo who, it appears, may have had a low-profile surgery after that race. 

 

Regardless, Uncle Mo's odds-on price to win has now drifted up to a full 5/1 with Ladbrokes as upstart Florida-based contender Dialed In (Mineshaft) sits tight as the 4/1 favourite. His deep-closing style ensures that all of his victories are top quality ones but he will be dependent on an electric early pace to ensure he has something to aim at. 

 

With more Derby preps yielding some very surprising results, it looks like this one could be the most open Derby we've seen in quite a while. There is a nice contrast in styles between several of the top contenders and there are some very mysterious horses that have already booked spots. It doesn't look like many of last year's stand-out two year-olds will be lining up but the latest word from the Pletcher barn is that Uncle Mo will ship to Churchill on April 18 and he will run in the Derby if he is considered fit and ready to run. 

 

Midnight Interlude (War Chant) ran down the front-running Comma To The Top (Bwana Charlie) in the Santa Anita Derby last Saturday and I was in attendance that day - actually picking Midnight Interlude to get the 13/1 victory. With the two big favourites scratched out, it set up nicely for the recent maiden special weight winner. If he can produce anything similar to that incredible late dash on what will probably be a sealed track in Kentucky, then he could be set to make a very huge statement for California racing. You get the idea that trip quality will be key, but he moved a mountain in the final furlong or so - being forced to check sharply and still came on to nip Comma To The Top. Disregard this horse at your peril - Ladbrokes has him alongside Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) at 16s.