Uncle Sigh Resumes Comeback Monday at Saratoga
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Multiple graded stakes-placed Uncle Sigh is the even-money favorite in a seven-furlong New York-bred allowance on Monday's card, his second race at the Spa this summer.
Trainer Gary Contessa considers it a bonus upstate appearance for Uncle Sigh, who ran second as the 3-5 favorite in a similar spot August 16 - his first start in 15 months since the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
"He just jumped up and said, 'Man, I'm doing really good. Why not?' I did not think I was going to run him here," Contessa said. "The intention was to get one into him and then run him at Belmont. He really has not taken a single step backward. If he had taken even a baby step backward, I wouldn't have considered it. But, he's doing everything forward right now."
Uncle Sigh will break from post 5 under topweight of 122 pounds, also what he carried in his comeback race, when he tracked the early pace and took a one-length lead at the top of the stretch before tiring to finish three-quarters of a length behind Drama King. Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rode Drama King, gets the call on Uncle Sigh.
"I think he got tired. Maybe he made an overconfident move, not the jock, maybe the horse did it. Who knows," Contessa said. "He's doing really good, better than he was going into the last race. I think he's coming into the race very well."
Wounded Warrior Stables and Anthony Robertson's Uncle Sigh missed significant time with several minor issues that progressed since he ran 14th in the Derby. While on the Triple Crown trail, he was second in both the Grade 3 Withers and Grade 3 Gotham and fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.
"It's nice having him back. Everything's good," Contessa said. "We're taking it one step at a time. I'm sure there's some New York-bred stakes for him. I haven't looked that far ahead yet."
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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