Uncle Mo Is Scheduled to Return to Todd Pletcher's Barn Next Monday

Uncle Mo, the two-year-old champion and winner of the 2010 Grade 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is scheduled to be shipped to Todd Pletcher’s barn at Belmont Park next Monday.

Uncle Mo was scratched from the May 7, 2011 Kentucky Derby, and on June 8 was eventually diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, a rare liver disease that disturbs the production and distribution of bile, causing severe inflammation of the bile passage.

Later on June 9, Uncle Mo was sent to Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and started jogging on June 24. It was determined then that he'd be reassessed in a few days, and he'd workout mildly for a couple weeks before full training was resumed.

Apparently, the son of Indian Charlie has recovered nicely since being struck by the career-threatening disease. He has gained 100 pounds and has been transferred to a bigger paddock.

Uncle Mo has been jogging with a rider on his back around the one-and-a-half acre paddock for the past two weeks, and has been grazing and resting.

It seems like this progress is good enough to return him to Todd Pletcher to start training, but Pletcher would not commit to a schedule status since there are no firm plans on him as of now.

Doctors are optimistic of Uncle Mo’s return since he has been recovering very well. But the real test will be the training sessions, which could prove to be Uncle Mo’s last if they don't go well.

His future in racing will depend on his reaction to these rigorous training sessions at Todd Pletcher’s barn in Belmont Park.

Original hopes by Uncle Mo’s owner Mike Repole were for Mo to make his return at the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga on Aug. 27, but that date seem too close for Mo to be ready for a race that rigorous.