Kentucky Derby: Uncle Mo Gives Pletcher Chance for Second Run for the Roses Win

Described as the most exciting two minutes of sports by American horse racing fans, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby represents the first leg of the coveted American Triple Crown and takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The second and third legs of the Triple Crown are the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, which are also Grade 1 races.

The race is run over one mile and two furlongs on a dirt track and was inaugurated in 1875, making it one of America’s oldest races. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies and among its most successful winners have been Secretariat (1973), Seattle Stew 1977) and Affirmed (1978), who all went on to win the Triple Crown.

Hot favourite to win the 2011 renewal is the Todd Pletcher trained Uncle Mo who is unbeaten in three starts as a two year old, two of which were at Grade 1 level, including a win at Churchill Hill Downs in the 2010 Breeders Cup Juvenile in November. Trained by Todd Pletcher, who trained the winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby, Super Saver, Uncle Mo’s profile looks perfect for a tilt at winning the Derby back-to-back for the Dallas born trainer.

His three career wins to date have been by a cumulative winning distance of 23 lengths, beating some very useful types in the process and suggesting he’s got plenty more to offer. Providing this Indian Charlie Colt has trained on over the winter, America could be set to witness a superstar in the making and long overdue winner of the Triple Crown, starting with the most prestigious Thoroughbred race on this side of the Atlantic.

In the very early years of the race, financial difficulties prevailed at the track and it was only from 1902 that the situation improved after a certain Colonel Matt Winn and a syndicate of local businessman acquired the facility and turned it into a success. Under this syndicate the Kentucky Derby grew in importance and is now the most famous race in the country.

The fastest time ever recorded in the race was achieved by Secretariat in 1973 who became the first horse to have won the race under two minutes. His time of one minute 59.4 seconds beat the previous record  held by Northern Dancer in 1964 and was made all the more amazing by the horse going faster as the race progressed. The only other horse to go under two minutes was Sham who was second behind Secretariat in that same race.

Over the years, several traditions have grown from the race, not least the blanket of 554 roses that are draped over the winner each year, hence the name “Run for the Roses.” This tradition has been in place since 1883. The traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby is known as the Mint Julep which consists of bourbon, mint and sugar on the rocks, while the dish of the Derby is known as a burgoo, which is a thick stew of beef, pork, chicken and vegetables.

Ben A. Jones is the most successful trainer of the race having saddled six winners between 1938 and 1952. While the most successful owner has been the Calumet Farm which is a thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924. It has owned eight winners of the race. The most successful jockey’s with five wins apiece has been Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack, although they could well be caught over the next few years by Calvin Borel, who has ridden the winners of three of the last four renewals of the Derby, for three different trainers! However, he may have to step aside this year with John R. Velazquez sure to ride Uncle Mo.

Whether Uncle Mo is good enough to justify his favouritism in the Kentucky Derby odds and end the 33-year wait for a Triple Crown winner remains to be seen but base don his Juvenile form, he stands every chance of picking up where Affirmed left off all those years ago and is certainly one to be excited about.