First Stakes-Winner for Uncle Mo

Champion US 2YO Uncle Mo sired his first stakes-winner when talented colt Uncle Vinny (2c Uncle Mo x Arealhotlover, by Untuttable) was awarded victory in the $150,000 Grade III Sanford Stakes at Saratoga after some interference resulted in a protest. Second over the line in the six furlong sprint, the Todd Pletcher trained Uncle Vinny got the verdict in the steward’s room as a result of the winner Magna Light shifting ground sharply in the straight. "We had a perfect trip. He was running coming down the lane," said Uncle Vinny’s rider Johnny Velazquez. "We were getting to the point where he was rolling from the eighth pole to the wire and he inherited the win. Nothing I can say. He definitely was coming running. (Magna Light) ran a great race, too." Uncle Vinny has won two of three starts and was a $175,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, running for Starlight Racing. A half-brother to stakes-placed Legal Laura, he is the third winner from smart juvenile stakes-winner Arealhotlover. An exceptional juvenile for the Todd Pletcher stable, Uncle Mo has been quick to make his mark at stud with four winners and five place-getters from just 14 runners. Currently the leading US first season sire, Uncle Mo is due back in Australia this spring at a fee of $16,500 and will have his first Australian runners this spring.