Uncle Mo: Breeders' Cup Favorite Fails To Rebound from Setbacks

Despite being six months removed from a rare liver disease, Uncle Mo was a 3-1 favorite headed into the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

But after Uncle Mo finished a disappointing 10th place, it was clear the three-year-old simply wasn't the same horse he had been before.

Uncle Mo impressed in his first action since the Kentucky Derby in the seven-furlong King's Bishop Stakes on Aug. 1, placing second, and turned heads by winning the Kelso Stakes. But concerns about his limited preparation for the Breeders' Cup were reinforced on Saturday.

Havre de Grace's trainer Larry Jones may have been a little biased in his assessment of Uncle Mo before the race, but he also hit the nail on the head.

Said Jones, via the New York Daily News:

"

“He’s a brilliant horse. I think he’s a special horse, but he’s going to have to show how special he is if he can come in and win this mile-and-a-quarter race off the prep that’s he’s had.”

"

In addition to coming off injury, Uncle Mo had never been in a mile-and-a-quarter race before. But this was largely ignored based on the talent of Uncle Mo—the 2011 Kentucky Derby favorite.

Uncle Mo was a comeback story everyone could fall in love with and held the pedigree to realistically be named the Horse of the Year with a win in the Classic.

But this comeback story ended on Saturday in Kentucky, a story with so much promise, but perhaps exaggerated expectations.

We are left with what could have been, one of the most talented three-year-olds in decades falling before our eyes.

It wasn't the way a comeback story is supposed to end.

Then again, maybe Uncle Mo will be celebrated for his heart when all is said and done. Because overcoming his obstacles off the field was a success in its own right.