Mo Tom Breezes Rapid Half-Mile in :47.80

Leading local hope for the Kentucky Derby Mo Tom returned to the work tab for the first time since suffering a defeat as the 5-2 second choice in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 20. Owned by G M B Racing and trained by Tom Amoss, the son of Uncle Mo left little doubt that the minor cut he suffered in his rough trip left any psychological marks on him, as he easily breezed through a rapid half-mile in 47.80 – good for third-best of 62 moves at the distance.

 

“He went well,” Amoss said. “It was his first work since his race and he did it in-hand the whole way. It was a good work, as far as all that goes, and was very relaxed. If anything, it was quicker than I thought. Hopefully he just stays like this though the Louisiana Derby. That would make me happy.”

 

In the Risen Star, Mo Tom closed from last place – 16 lengths astern – and checked sharply at the three-sixteenths-pole under Corey Lanerie while trying to rally up the rail. Despite such, he re-rallied to be third, beaten only 1½ lengths. Out of the Rubiano mare Caroni, he has shown marked consistency throughout his short six-race career, including three wins and three thirds. One race prior, he was a smart winner of the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 to kick off his Derby Trail and sophomore campaign.

 

In his first work since a valiant runner-up finish in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 20, Brittlyn Stable’s Al Stall-trained Forevamo returned to the work tab for his connections, working an easy half-mile in 49.80.

 

“Nice and comfortable,” Stall succinctly reported.

 

The stakes-winning Florida-bred half-brother to champion Musical Romance has shown impressive improvement in his last three starts, while finishing second in both his races in 2016. One race prior to the Risen Star, he was a rallying runner-up in allowance company behind improving Candy My Boy, who would set a torrid pace before finishing fourth in the Risen Star.

 

 

Robert Persons and Earl Conrad Sanderson, Jr.’s Blarp, sixth last out in the Grade III $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap on Feb. 20 and third a race prior in the Grade III $125,000 Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap on Jan. 16 – both at Fair Grounds – worked a half-mile in a strong 49 flat for trainer Joe Sharp.

 

Four colts exiting the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes – Brittlyn Racing’s Al Stall-trained Forevamo (second), G M B Racing’s Tom Amoss-trained Mo Tom (third), Frank Mancari’s Roger Brueggemann-trained Candy My Boy (fourth) and Lloyd Madison Farms, IV’s Greg Foley-trained Zapperini (fifth) – each had their first work since that Feb. 20 event. Forevamo (49.80), Mo Tom (47.80) and Candy My Boy (50.60) each worked half-miles, while the slightly more lightly raced Zapperini logged five furlongs in 1:02.40.