uncle mo kentucky derby 2011

Juvenile champion Uncle Mo, the second choice on the morning line, was officially scratched out of the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole held a press conference at Churchill Downs at 9 a.m. EDT on  to announce the decision. It’s very frustrating,” Pletcher said. When pressed on specifics of the bizarre illness, Pletcher cited an enzyme that showed elevation during blood work samples. Pletcher said he “galloped like a monster.”

Pletcher said he would eventually be flown to New York. Repole said the three veterinarians treating Uncle Mo had not recommended that Uncle Mo not run, but that Pletcher made the final decision not to put the horse in the 1 1/4-mile Derby considering the questions about his health.

Pletcher defended their decision to enter Uncle Mo, which kept Sway Away out of the race.

Repole and Pletcher will still be represented in the Derby by Stay Thirsty. Repole said. "Yes, because Uncle Mo, in my opinion he’s five to seven lengths better than any horse in this race."

"As bad as I want win this race, (Pletcher) is 43 and I’m 42. How many people have a horse scratched from this race and still have another one?”

The defection of Uncle Mo meant that three years in a row that one of the favorites for the Derby was withdrawn prior to the race. Last year, early Derby favorite Eskendereya   was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby six days before the race after a filling was discovered in his left front leg. Each of the three horses were Derby mounts for jockey John Velazquez, who has has picked up the mount on Animal Kingdom. Surely if there is uncertainty about the health of the horse this close to the race, there will be uncertainty on Saturday. Uncle Mo looked as if he would be a heavy favorite for the Derby before losing the April 9 Wood Memorial. Last year, powerful Wood Memorial winner Eskendereya was scratched the Sunday before the race with a leg injury. He never raced again.

"It's very, very, very, very, very disappointing," Pletcher said. Owner Mike Repole said all week that Uncle Mo was "50-50" to make the Derby, but Pletcher told Repole the bad news on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. - two hours after Repole had told reporters the decision would be announced Friday morning.

"The decision was an easy decision because Todd Pletcher said he was not running," said Repole, who will still be represented in the race with Stay Thirsty. "Right now, I'm really concerned about Uncle Mo."

The scratch of Uncle Mo allowed John Velazquez to pick up the mount on Animal Kingdom, replacing Robby Albarado, who broke his nose in a spill at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

After early wagering ended Friday, Florida Derby winner Dialed In, trained by two-time Derby winner Nick Zito, was the 9-2 favorite in the now 19-horse field, having survived a spring that saw many top contenders upset or injured.

This year's Derby features three woman, two trainers - Kathy Ritvo and Kathleen O'Connell - and one jockey, Rosie Napravnik.

If you don't get excited walking your horse over for the Kentucky Derby there's something wrong with you."