Amoss Plots Plans for Pair of 2-Year-Olds
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Photo: Reed Palmer Photography, Churchill Downs
The Uncle Mo colt Mo Tom won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs
Trainer Tom Amoss, multiple leading trainer at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, has a couple of promising 2-year-olds he hopes end up competing in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in 2016.
G M B Racing's Mo Tom, who rallied for third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) in November at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in :49 4/5 Dec. 18 at Fair Grounds. Rosemont Farm homebred Harlan Punch went the same distance in :50 1/5 Dec. 19.
"We are starting to get started with a couple of the younger ones who have accomplished some and each had the same kind of work-easy half-miles," Amoss said. "I'm obviously hoping they develop into nice 3-year-olds, but they have some tasks ahead. A lot of guys get excited about their horses this time of year, but it's a long way off.
"Mo Tom worked well and so did Harlan Punch. There's a discussion going on between both the Rosemont and G M B camps as to how much racing they want to do before the Louisiana Derby, which is the goal of both horses. Whether or not we use two preps or one going into it is something the horses will tell us.
"Right now Harlan Punch is a mature 2-year-old, while Mo Tom still has a lot of maturing to do."
Mo Tom, by Uncle Mo , was purchased for $150,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. He has two wins and two thirds in four starts, including a victory in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill. Harlan Punch, by Harlan's Holiday, finished third behind Exaggerator and Sunny Ridge in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) and also has a win and a second in three starts.
Both colts broke their maidens at Ellis Park in Kentucky.