Uncle Heavy could be pointed to Peter Pan after Wood loss

Uncle Heavy overcame a troubled trip from the outermost post 12 to finish fifth in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Trained by Butch Reid and owned by Michael Millam and LC Racing, the Social Inclusion bay picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to bring his total to 30 after earning 20 points for the winner’s share of his Withers (G3) win in February at Aqueduct. He is 25th in the standings for a spot in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Uncle Heavy broke a step slow under regular pilot Mychel Sanchez in the Wood and raced in 10th position in the early running before making a wide move through the final turn. He went seven wide into the stretch run and was in close proximity to Deposition, who fell inside the three-sixteenths.

“He came back fine and is happy this morning,” Reid said. “Considering the incident that happened very close to him in the race, we’re happy he came out of it fine. It was just one of those days, he drew a lousy post, didn’t break good and ended up wide. It just wasn’t our day.”

Although Reid would have dearly loved to test Uncle Heavy at 10 furlongs in the Kentucky Derby, he said the team will consider a number of options, including the nine-furlong Peter Pan (G3) on May 11 at Aqueduct.

“I think that distance would be better for this horse, so we’ll keep an eye on it but we’re realistic,” Reid said regarding possible defections in the Kentucky Derby. “We have other possibilities in mind already. The Peter Pan makes sense, but there’s several races that make sense and a lot of money to be made out there. I’d like to get a nice confidence builder for the horse.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Reid’s sister-in-law Barbara Reid, Uncle Heavy has banked $323,580 through a 5: 3-0-0 record.