Uncle Mo - 'that's all she wrote' - retired

[Glimmerglass]

Uncle Mo retired from racing

The decision to retire Uncle Mo was made Sunday after blood tests showed that one of his enzymes, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), was elevated. This is the same enzyme that was elevated in the spring – knocking Uncle Mo out of the Triple Crown series – and led to the diagnosis of the liver disease, cholangiohepatitis. Uncle Mo does not have a recurrence of that disease, but the GGT level was the highest it’s been since the colt returned to trainer Todd Pletcher’s care in July, Repole said. A normal GGT level is under 35, Uncle Mo’s was “significantly higher” following the Classic, Repole said.

“We don’t want to continue down this road where he’s going to get ill again,” Repole said Monday morning. “The vets did say that the stress and rigors of training could always bring about this elevated GGT.”

I wish him the best, but I think he was far from the most impressive, brief runners in recent years. Too much hype to live up to perhaps.

[CVPeg]

Yes. He was that “hope for another superstar” who didn’t turn out to be one. Beautiful horse. Outstanding early accomplishments, and potential in spades. But time to look ahead to see who it will be next.

[buffalo_colleen]

I’m glad they are doing the right thing by the horse, instead of trying to continue pushing him to race.

He was one of the most brilliant two years olds to race in a while. His BC Juvenile last year was truly breathtaking. But even without his liver disease I don’t think he had a classic pedigree for a Triple Crown campaign.

He gave it his all for a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on a sticky tiring track – but would he have been able to hold off Caleb’s Posse’s breathtaking swoop down the strecth in the BC Dirt Mile? I doubt it.

Mo will probably be a very popular stallion, continuing the unfortunate trend in US TB breeding to favor precocious speedy horses over the durable ones with stamina.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=buffalo colleen;5943581]

Mo will probably be a very popular stallion, continuing the unfortunate trend in US TB breeding to favor precocious speedy horses over the durable ones with stamina.[/QUOTE]

Seriously. Meanwhile I’m trying to decide if there is ANY way I could snap up one of a couple well-bred mares at Finger Lakes and sweet-talk her into Fort Prado’s book in Illinois (raced until age eight, winner and dirt and turf at up to 8.5 furlongs. not a HUGE distance runner, but success all the way through his eight-year-old season? What stallion does that these days?) Uncle Mo was a good two-year-old, as was Archarcharch, for that matter, but just racing at two is not something that would make me think awesome stallion prospect!

[nasalberry]

More important, will his get be predisposed to contracting cholangiohepatitis?

[danceronice]

Is it a genetic disease? If so, seems possible at least.

[nasalberry]

[QUOTE=danceronice;5944938]
Is it a genetic disease? If so, seems possible at least.[/QUOTE]

I don’t know that it is. But any weaknesses or health issues should be taken in to consideration. I would certainly be asking a vet if a predisposition to liver disease is inheritable before breeding.

[retento]

Uncle Mo has a history of liver inflammation/disease, Devil May Care died from liver cancer. How common is liver disease in thoroughbreds and is it just bad luck that two horses trained by Todd Pletcher have liver issues?

[Xctrygirl]

In many of the articles about Mo’s retirement you’ll see quotes that they did ascertain that this diseases is not an inheritable thing.

I know I saw it on his FB page and I think on Tb Times as well.

Emily

[Laurierace]

My personal feeling is that his liver infection is unlikely to be genetic but in no way would I expect them to tell us if it was. They would deny it until they are blue in the face regardless.

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=buffalo colleen;5943581]
I’m glad they are doing the right thing by the horse, instead of trying to continue pushing him to race.

He was one of the most brilliant two years olds to race in a while. His BC Juvenile last year was truly breathtaking. But even without his liver disease I don’t think he had a classic pedigree for a Triple Crown campaign.

He gave it his all for a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on a sticky tiring track – but would he have been able to hold off Caleb’s Posse’s breathtaking swoop down the strecth in the BC Dirt Mile? I doubt it.

Mo will probably be a very popular stallion, continuing the unfortunate trend in US TB breeding to favor precocious speedy horses over the durable ones with stamina.[/QUOTE]

This… And its so rare the the two yr old stars are still stars year later…

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

He’s at Ashford just in time for breeding season

[Xctrygirl]

Since the stud deal was announced a while ago we all knew he’d be at Ashford whenever he retired.

For me his career hinged on the Breeder’s Cup. Now I think he belonged in the BC Mile to get a shot at running next year, but I understand that the stallion value comes from winning the Classic.

As poorly as he ran in the classic, I don’t think anyone with a brain thought he would ship out of Churchill to anywhere BUT Ashford.

Now had he won, I think Repole would have run him again next year.

But with the poor run and the bad liver levels. He’s worth more and in a safer position health wise to just go to stud.

~Emily

[summerhorse]

What I’ve read is that liver problems are very rare in horses and are (it said Usually) cancerous. that is certainly what I have seen but I guess a horse could also get what Mo has from a toxin or just idiopathic like with many people. I’m guessing the future will let us know.

I love Mo but I HATED that they did not put him in the sprint or mile where he might have very well won.