G3 Excelsior Stakes Winner for Uncle Mo
Lightly raced Life’s a Parlay (4h Uncle Mo x Mir Cat, by Tale of the Cat) posted a career best win on Saturday when taking out the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct.
Prepared by Todd Pletcher, Life’s a Parlay was a hot favourite for the 1 and 1/8th mile contest and was strong to the line to win by a length taking his overall record to four wins from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $250,000.
“We felt like there would be a little bit of speed in there, we weren't sure,” said Pletcher. “We just left it in Johnny's [Velazquez] hands and when the other two horses went, I thought he was in a good stalking position and Johnny looked like he was just biding his time.”
Velasquez was impressed with Life’s a Parlay, who was a $725,000 Keeneland September purchase and runs for Repole Stable and St Elias Stable.
“This horse is better than I think he is but when he gets to the lead, he waits. He sees everything in front of him and I have to wait for the horses to come to him for him to run again. He is very talented,” he added.
The 48th stakes-winner worldwide for Uncle Mo, Life’s a Parlay is a half-brother to Grade I winner Declassify from Mir Cat.