Mo Tom Looks to Sweep First Two Derby Preps at Fair Grounds

G M B Racing’s Mo Tom has a full plate on Saturday afternoon. The Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots-based charge will attempt to refute his detractors, exact some revenge on a previous conqueror and do his part to keep the winner’s circle celebration local when the New Orleans-owned and -trained son of Uncle Mo takes to the track for the Grade II $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes.

A driving winner last out in the local Grade III $200,000 TwinSpires.com Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16, the $150,000 Keeneland September Sale purchase will look to do what Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s International Star did in 2015 – sweep the first two of the local Kentucky Derby prep series. Said son of Fusaichi Pegasus, who returns to race earlier in the card, would go on to win the Grade II Louisiana Derby five weeks later – a race that is, especially with his connections, the first major goal in Mo Tom’s sophomore agenda.

“I think the most interesting thing about what we’ve seen with ’Tom over the last few weeks is that he looks like he’s finally filling out,” Amoss beamed. “That’s exciting because he’s a May foal and we were hoping for that development. It looks like we’re starting to see it.”

Owned by Gayle Benson, wife of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, Mo Tom is on a calculated campaign that appears to be three-fold: win the $1 million Louisiana Derby for his locally iconic owners, prepare him for a tilt at the Grade I $2 million Kentucky Derby and give him enough bottom to overcome being a late foal who has shown – even in his victories – a degree of immaturity. In addition, he has to face John Oxley’s Mark Casse-trained Risen Star favorite Airoforce, who beat him into third two starts ago in the Grade II $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club – a race in which Mo Tom did not have the most ideal trip.

A half-brother to Peter Callaghan’s Kenny McPeek-trained Beautician, a talented daughter of Dehere who was second in two Grade I races – including the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita – Mo Tom is out of the Rubiano mare Caroni. Many skeptics have brought to mind that the immediate presence Uncle Mo, who raced only eight times and lost in both of his attempts beyond 1 1/16 miles – and champion sprinter Rubiano may limit Mo Tom’s stamina ceiling.

“I disagree with (pedigree-based detractors),” Amoss said. “When I bought him I was paying a lot of attention to horses I thought could get a distance and I feel very comfortable that he can. I say that after a lot of years of having horses I was very skeptical of them doing that, so I’m very comfortable with the whole thing.”

The betting public and racing fans will find out in due time how much mo’ Mo Tom can travel, but in the meantime it may be worth noting that his second dam, Douce Carotte, is a daughter of Caro – the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors and turf marathon superstars With Approval, Grand Flotilla and Golden Pheasant. His third dam, Kshesinskaya, is a daughter of the great Nijinsky II, who has the unique notch in his girth of siring Kentucky Derby (Ferdinand) and Epsom Derby (Shahrastani) winners in the same year (1986). Lastly, his third dam, stakes-placed Royal Kin, is a daughter of Sir Gaylord, the older half-brother to Secretariat who was favored for the Kentucky Derby (injured and retired just prior) and possessed enough speed to set a seven-furlong track record and ample stamina to beget Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor.

Needless to say, there is a chance that by Saturday evening, reports of Mo Tom’s endurance shortcomings may be slightly exaggerated.

The three-time winner from five starts, earner of $211,526 and holder of the highest two-turn Beyer Speed Figure (88) in the field breaks from post two under regular rider Corey Lanerie.

IMPROVING UNCLE WALTER BACK FOR MORE

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Uncle Walter has developed nicely so far for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Uncle Mo was a visibly appealing winner on debut at Keeneland in October – closing stoutly to get up by a neck. Next out, in an allowance/optional claiming event going 7½ furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 14, he raced closer to the pace and just missed by a head to Pin Oak Stud’s highly regarded Synchrony – a race that set him up well for his sophomore campaign.

Such unveiling occurred on Jan. 16 in the Grade III $200,000 TwinSpires.com Lecomte Stakes and the bay colt was well-respected at the windows, going off as the 5-2 second choice. After an ideal trip from the two-hole under Miguel Mena, he put in a smart bid at the top of the stretch, but could not hold off the more-seasoned G M B Racing-owned duo of Mo Tom and Tom’s Ready. While this time around in the Grade II $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes it stands that he will likely improve, the $85,000 Keeneland September purchase must do so from post 11 of 12 (with the scratch of Laoban in post nine).

“He’s training great,” Maker said. “I'm happy with him. His last race was his first start at two turns and was against graded stakes horses who had an experience edge over him. I expect improvement this time.

“The post is one thing I’m not too pleased about,” Maker continued. “However the race shapes up, he should be okay. The jockey will have to make those kinds of decisions once the gates open.”

Reigning Eclipse Award champion jockey Javier Castellano picks up the mount. The Venezuela native was aboard for Uncle Walter’s second-place finish at Churchill Downs.

SHORT ON SEASONING, LONG ON STAMINA ZAPPERINI STEPS UP

One of the big contender question marks in the Grade II $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes comes in the four-legged form of Lloyd Madison IV’s homebred Zapperini. Specifically, how much will the good-looking son of Ghostzapper improve from his professional local two-turn maiden victory and how high is his talent ceiling at this point in his career.

On Jan. 21, the dark bay colt made his second career start following a tough loss on debut in which he closed from last to lose by a neck going a one-turn mile on Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. Breaking well in his Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and sophomore bow, he overcame a wide trip and a few bump exchanges to collar and overpower well-regarded Virtual Machine, while sprinting away from third-place finisher and next-out winner Call the Colonel. What may have been most appealing about his performance was his gratuitous gallop-out.

“He really finished up good that day,” said trainer Greg Foley. “His gallop-out was great and he can run all day and doesn’t seem to get tired. I’ve always liked the horse and he should have won his first race.

“He’s coming in great and that’s a big part of running here,” Foley continued. “He has raced two times and he’s a sound horse – knock on wood. My (owners) wanted to take a shot, so as long as he’s doing well, I said let’s do it. He’s a nice horse and I hope he runs well. We’ll see how good he is.”

While some contenders may have stamina questions circling above their soon to be exhausted pedigrees, there are no such buzzards for Zapperini. With extensive European classic blood in his veins, he shares the same female family as two-time Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Treve through Trevilla – Zapperini’s fourth dam and Treve’s third. Also in this family is classic-winning six-time European champion Triptych, a 10-furlong specializing half-sister to Trevilla who was the first filly to ever compete in the Breeders’ Cup Classic when placing sixth.

CANDY MY BOY A TRUE OUTSIDER

Frank Mancari’s Candy My Boy has the unenviable position of being both a figurative and literal outsider in Saturday’sGrade II $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes. The son of top sire Candy Ride out of multiple stakes winner Runway Rosie drew post 13 – moved to 12 after the scratch of Laoban – and will be stepping up in class after a pair of victories over the local surface.

“Everything’s good with him,” said trainer Roger Brueggemann. “A couple more days to sweat it out, obviously, but he’s good.

“I don’t like the post, but there isn’t much I can do about it,” Brueggemann continued. “I know he likes to run on or near the lead, but he doesn’t have to have the lead. We’ll just have to see what happens. He’s doing better all he time and starting to mature. His actual training is getting much better.  Before you couldn’t get him to work very fast at all, but now he’s starting to get the hang of it.”

Candy My Boy, a $40,000 Fasig-Tipton March graduate, has improved in speed figures and performance while concurrently ascending in class in his previous four starts. Last out, in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming event, he outran his 10-1 odds to wire a field of seven, including fellow Risen Star competitor Forevamo. One race prior, he wired a mile and 70-yard maiden special weight at the New Orleans oval at odds of 16-1 on New Year’s Eve. In his four starts since being turned over to Brueggemann, who is currently striking at 27% on the meet, he has not finished out of the exacta.

Shaun Bridgmohan rides and will be the fourth different pilot in as many starts for the bay colt.

Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots