Two of the biggest questions in Kentucky Derby wagering have been answered as Uncle Mo is looking good for the Derby while The Factor is out.
The two horses were set to be the favorites in the Derby before poor prep races but at least in the case of Uncle Mo he will get another chance. Make your Kentucky Derby bet at SBG.
Uncle Mo
It is possible that Uncle Mo will get a lot of action in the Kentucky Derby as bettors forgive his bad effort in the Wood Memorial. Whether they place enough faith in him to be the favorite is doubtful but he should go off at single-digit odds. Uncle Mo worked 5-furlongs on Tuesday for trainer Todd Pletcher and the horse did well for jockey John Velazquez. Pletcher was pleased with the workout and how Uncle Mo is doing. Uncle Mo is recovering from a gastrointestinal infection that may have impacted his performance in the Wood. Pletcher didn’t say that Uncle Mo is back to full strength but he did say that the horse is getting back to his old self. If the infection was the reason for the poor performance in the Wood then Uncle Mo is going to have a ton of value in the Kentucky Derby. On the other hand, if the infection was not the reason that Uncle Mo didn’t finish well then the horse has been overhyped for more than a year. Bettors will have to make their decision on Derby day.
The Factor
Co-owner George Bolton said that The Factor will not run in the Kentucky Derby. The horse underwent a myectomy after displacing his palate in the Arkansas Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert said that the horse is really not ready for a big race like the Kentucky Derby so he will not run. There is an outside chance that The Factor could come back to run in the Preakness but it appears that the horse will go in either the Met Mile or the Woody Stephens. The Factor probably won’t go in the Preakness because Bolton is planning to send another horse he co-owns, Astrology in that race.
Dialed In is expected to be a lukewarm Kentucky Derby wagering favorite and it is possible that Uncle Mo could be the second choice. Other horses in the mix will be Nehro, Archarcharch, Mucho Macho Man, Soldat, Toby’s Corner, Brilliant Speed, Midnight Interlude and Stay Thirsty.