Installed in Colonial Downs
In an afternoon of twelve races, six of which are stakes, Grand Mo The First (Uncle Mo) will try to be the protagonist in the main event, the Virginia Derby (1 1/8, Turf, G3), a meeting with eleven rivals who will fight for a purse of $500,000.
Victor Barboza Jr.’s foal had a demanding journey – last year – to the race of the roses, which included the Tampa Bay Derby (G1) and the Florida Derby (G1), which earned him a pass to Kentucky, where finally the rigor of that classification took its toll on him to close the ranks of that final starring Mistik Dan, Sierra Leone and Forever Young.
«Fortunately, he arrived healthy in Florida and that allowed us to focus on him for this new stage,» Barboza said of the Gran Pollo Stable credit who came back at three months to win the Bear’s Den Stakes. «He is a very versatile horse, he almost won the Tampa Bay (3rd to Domestic Product’s nose), in sand, he was undefeated in his first two starts, but I think the Turf is where he is best suited,» he stressed.
Grand Mo The First is already in Virginia. «He’s a more mature horse. He’s done everything that’s been asked of him,» said Barboza, who this time will pair with Paco Lopez. «Jaramillo will stay at GulsftreamPark because the Florida Sire Stakes is being run; however, Paco knows the horse. He ran him in the Swale Stakes and for the Tampa Bay Derby he was the rider who was training him,» he said.
Regarding the strategy that may be presented in the Virginia Derby, Barboza commented that it will be an even challenge, in which the rider will have total freedom. Deterministic (Liam’s Map) will be the favorite. Winner of the Gotham Stakes in the arena, he has placed second and third in the Manila Stakes (G2) and the Saratoga Invitational (G1), respectively, in his foray on the grass.
Note’s Spanish
Grand Mo The First enfrenta once rivales en el Virginia Derby
En una tarde de doce carreras, de las cuales seis son stakes, Grand Mo The First (Uncle Mo). Intentará ser el protagonista en el evento central, el Virginia Derby (1 1/8, Turf, G3), cita ante once rivales que lucharán por una bolsa de 500 mil dólares.
El zaino a cargo de Victor Barboza Jr, tuvo un recorrido exigente – el año pasado- hacia la carrera de las rosas, que incluyó el Tampa Bay Derby (G1) y el Florida Derby (G1), que le valió su pase a Kentucky, donde finalmente el rigor de esa clasificación le pasó factura para cerrar filas de aquel final protagonizado por Mistik Dan, Sierra Leone y Forever Young.
“Afortunadamente, llegó sano a Florida y eso nos permitió enfocarlo para esta nueva etapa”, comentó Barboza sobre el crédito del Gran Pollo Stable que regresó a los tres meses para ganar el Bear’s Den Stakes. “Es un caballo muy versátil, estuvo a punto de ganar el Tampa Bay (3ero a nariz de Domestic Product), en arena, estuvo invicto en sus primeras dos salidas, pero creo que en el Turf es donde mejor se acomoda”, recalcó.
Grand Mo The First ya se encuentra en Virginia. “Es un caballo más maduro. Ha hecho todo lo que se le ha pedido”, señaló Barboza, quien esta vez hará dupla con Paco Lopez. “Jaramillo se quedará en GulsftreamPark porque se corren los Florida Sire Stakes; sin embargo, Paco conoce al caballo. Él lo corrió en el Swale Stakes y para el Tampa Bay Derby era el jinete que lo venía ejercitando”, comentó.
En torno a la estrategia que pueda presentarse en el Virginia Derby, Barboza comentó que será un reto parejo, en el que el jinete tendrá total libertad. A la cita acude Deterministic (Liam’s Map) como favorito. Ganador del Gotham Stakes en la arena y que luego ha figurado segundo y tercero en el Manila Stakes (G2) y el Saratoga Invitational (G1), respectivamente, en su incursión sobre el pasto.
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