Uncle Chuck to Enter Stud at Journeyman Stud

Graded stakes winner Uncle Chuck   will enter stud in 2022 at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud near Ocala, Fla., the farm announced Dec. 3. Uncle Chuck is currently being syndicated by Journeyman Stud and Taylor Made Farm and will stand the 2022 breeding season for $6,500 with a live foal guarantee.

The son of leading sire Uncle Mo   out of grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song, is a half brother to Maclean's Music  , who is the co-leader of his sire class by number of grade 1 winners with four. Uncle Chuck also is a half brother to grade 3 winners Kentuckian and Electric Forest. Forest Music won five stakes during her racing career, including the 2005 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) and placed in the 2004 Prioress Stakes (G1) and Test Stakes (G1).

"I've seen Uncle Chuck referred to as brilliant by his connections; he was certainly that," said Brent Fernung. "Uncle Chuck is royally bred, an exceptional physical, and had unlimited potential as a racehorse. He is everything I look for in a stallion prospect. His abbreviated racing career, shortened by injury, is the only reason he isn't in Kentucky commanding a much larger fee."

Uncle Chuck was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and bought by Three Amigos for $250,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt went to trainer Bob Baffert and was raced by longtime partners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Uncle Chuck broke his maiden at 3 at Santa Anita Park, running a mile June 12 under jockey Mike Smith, winning wire-to-wire by seven lengths. His performance generated a 96 Equibase Speed Figure .

His next start was in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) July 4 when he beat stablemate and grade 2 winner Thousand Words   by four lengths at the wire. After completing a mile in 1:35.80, Uncle Chuck finished the final eighth of a mile in :11.85 for a final time of 1:47.65 and earned another 96 ESF. Uncle Chuck's performance at Los Alamitos Race Course earned him a shot in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) to be run 35 days later. He broke from the gate as a 5-2 second choice to eventual winner Tiz The Law   and led for the opening six furlongs before fading in the stretch.

"Uncle Chuck was special from day one," said Baffert. "Assistant trainer Mike Marlow, who is a very good judge of talent, spoke about Uncle Chuck in the same terms as he did American Pharoah   and Justify  . Uncle Chuck had great athleticism and showed his sire's brilliance on the track. His potential was unlimited."