Champion Uncle Mo was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby Friday morning, a development that was not altogether unexpected. Scratched from the $2.2 million classic, Uncle Mo was earlier diagnosed with a mysterious gastro-intestinal infection and had been treated with antibiotics.
Uncle Mo's trainer, Todd Pletcher, decided to withdraw the colt after consulting with three veterinarians who could not work out exactly what was wrong with him.
Uncle Mo was the early favorite to capture the first leg of the Triple Crown after establishing himself as last year's best two-year-old in North America, capping an unbeaten season with a breathtaking win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the same Churchill Downs track as Saturday's race.
Bookmakers listed him as the second favorite at 9-2, behind Dialed In, even after he drew an unfavorable post position.
It was decided to scratch him from the mile and a quarter race in the hope that he can rebound and race later this year, possibly in the Breeders' Cup Classic.