Uncle Mo

In his first start, a maiden special weight on the Travers undercard at Saratoga, Uncle Mo led at every call to beat a field of 2-year-olds by 14 1/4 lengths. In his next start, the Grade I Champagne Stakes, he took the lead early and never looked back en route to a 5-length win in the time of 1:34 2/5 seconds—faster than Secretariat's 1972 Champagne win.

In the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Uncle Mo won by four lengths over Grade 1 winner Boys at Tosconova.[https://web.archive.org/web/20101110002307/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-06/uncle-mo-seals-his-place-as-derby-favorite-with-juvenile-win.html Bloomberg Businessweek November 06, 2010] He was voted the 2010 Eclipse Award as the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.[http://www.drf.com/news/2010-eclipse-awards-uncle-mo Daily Racing Form, January 6, 2011]

As the early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series,{{Cite web |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41582753/ns/sports/ |title=MSNC, February 14, 2011 |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215131552/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41582753/ns/sports/ |archive-date=February 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Uncle Mo made his 3-year-old debut in the Timely Writer, a one-turn mile overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park. After dawdling on the lead for the first three-quarters of a mile, he came home in 22 4/5 for the final quarter.

His next start was the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 9.[http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62218/wood-memorial-field-starting-to-come-together BloodHorse, March 31, 2011] Running 9 furlongs for the first time in his career, Uncle Mo was defeated by Toby's Corner and finished third.

After his upset at 1-10 odds, he was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection but was still sent to Churchill Downs in anticipation of a start in the Kentucky Derby. After finishing a course of antibiotics, regressing immediately after stopping medication, and losing over 70 pounds in the weeks before the Derby, he was scratched the day before the race.{{cite web|title=Uncle Mo Scratched Out of Kentucky Derby|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/136413/uncle-mo-scratched-out-of-kentucky-derby|website=BloodHorse.com|access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}}

Sent to Winstar Farm to recuperate and receive attention from top veterinarians, Uncle Mo was diagnosed with cholangiohepatitis, a rare liver disease. He began treatment while continuing to rest at Winstar. After gaining back 110 pounds in two months, he returned to trainer Todd Pletcher's barn at Saratoga on July 11, 2011. He resumed training and finished second to Caleb's Posse in the 7-furlong King's Bishop Stakes on August 1, 2011.

Uncle Mo was retired from racing on November 10, 2011, shortly after finishing 10th in the Breeders' Cup Classic. His retirement was prompted due to elevated levels of the liver enzyme GGT, which also occurred earlier in the season and led to a diagnosis of cholangiohepatitis.

Uncle Mo began standing at Ashford Stud, the American arm of Irish breeding giant Coolmore, for the 2012 Thoroughbred breeding season,{{cite news|last=Grening|first=David|title=Uncle Mo retired from racing|url=https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7203093/uncle-mo-retired-racing|access-date=November 12, 2011|newspaper=ESPN.com|date=November 11, 2011}} and later became a "shuttle stallion" servicing mares at Coolmore's American and Australian farms.{{cite web|url=http://www.coolmore.com/stallion-roster-america/ |title=Coolmore Stallions: Coolmore America Roster |publisher=Coolmore Stud |access-date=January 2, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.coolmore.com/stallion-roster-australia/ |title=Coolmore Stallions: Coolmore Australia Roster |publisher=Coolmore Stud |access-date=January 2, 2013}}

Uncle Mo was the leading freshman sire of 2015 in North America and the overall leading sire of two-year-olds in Europe and North America.{{cite web|last1=Oppenheim|first1=Bill|title=The Uncle Mo Show|url=http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/the-uncle-mo-show/|website=www.thoroughbreddailynews.com|date=22 March 2016 |access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}} In 2016, he was not only the leading second-crop sire, he also finished third in the general sire listing despite having only two crops of racing age.{{cite web|title=Interactive Sire Lists|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/thoroughbred-breeding/sire-lists/general|website=www.bloodhorse.com|access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}} His stud fee was increased to $150,000 for the 2017 season.{{cite web|title=Ashford Stud Releases 2017 Fees|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/217509/ashford-stud-releases-2017-fees|website=BloodHorse.com|access-date=26 January 2017|language=en}}

On December 19, 2024, Mike Repole announced on his X account that Uncle Mo had been euthanized at the age of 16. He said that Uncle Mo had injured his left foreleg, and underwent surgery on the day before his death. "Uncle Mo was so much more to me than a champion and iconic stallion—he was and always will be part of my family," he said.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Sean |title=Ashford Stallion Uncle Mo Dies at Age 16 |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/281729/ashford-stallion-uncle-mo-dies-at-age-16 |access-date=19 December 2024 |publisher=Blood Horse |date=19 December 2024}}

Uncle Mo has sired 15 individual Grade I winners.

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding''

{{Pedigree

|name = Uncle Mo

|f = Indian Charlie

|m = Playa Maya

|ff = In Excess

|fm = Soviet Sojourn

|mf = Arch

|mm = Dixie Slippers

|fff = Siberian Express

|ffm = Kantado

|fmf = Leo Castelli

|fmm = Political Parfait

|mff = Kris S.

|mfm = Aurora

|mmf = Dixieland Band

|mmm = Cyane's Slippers

|ffff = Caro

|fffm = Indian Call

|ffmf = Saulingo

|ffmm = Vi

|fmff = Sovereign Dancer

|fmfm = Suspicious Native

|fmmf = Diplomat Way

|fmmm = Peach Butter

|mfff = Roberto

|mffm = Sharp Queen

|mfmf = Danzig

|mfmm = Althea

|mmff = Northern Dancer

|mmfm = Mississippi Mud

|mmmf = Cyane

|mmmm = Hot Slippers

|}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.unclemo.com Uncle Mo's official website]
• [http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorseInfo.cfm?refno=8292193®istry=T Uncle Mo's pedigree and racing stats]

Category:2008 racehorse births

Category:2024 racehorse deaths

Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky

Category:Racehorses trained in the United States

Category:Eclipse Award winners

Category:Breeders' Cup Juvenile winners

Category:Thoroughbred family 8-c

Category:Animal deaths by euthanasia