Uncle Mo’s Kingsbarns Derby Bound After G2 Victory

Kingsbarns (3c Uncle Mo x Lady Tapit, by Tapit) kept his record unblemished on Saturday when the Spendthrift Farm-owned colt earned his spot in the Kentucky Derby with a Grade II Louisiana Derby victory.

Breaking strongly in the 1 3/16 mile race, Kingsbarns immediately took command when pressured by Jace’s Road. That colt backed off in the middle of the race to sit a length off the Uncle Mo son as Kingsbarns galloped comfortably under Flavien Prat.

Kingsbarns extended his lead around the turn to have over four lengths on the field in the stretch but that lead taken down to 3 ½ lengths in the end with the third placed runner 6 ¼ lengths back at the line.

Trained by Todd Pletcher in all three of his career starts, Kingsbarns is the third Coolmore-connected horse in the last four years to win the Grade II Louisiana Derby alongside his sire’s champion studmate Epicenter and Lookin At Lucky’s winning Wells Bayou.

A $250,000 yearling purchase, the Parks Investment Group-bred Kingsbarns was an $800,000 buy by Spendthrift from Tom McCrocklin at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale last year.

Kingsbarns is out of the Grade III placed Lady Tapit. That mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Gozzip Girl and to the dam of graded stakes winner Gallileo’s Town and Gianella.

It was a big day at the Fair Grounds for Uncle Mo with the top class sire also the broodmare sire of Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks winner Southlawn with that filly now headed to the Grade I Kentucky Oaks.