Granpollo stables First Dai Mo who finished a distant third severity in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), was taken to the track on April 14 for a five-minute maintenance workout at Gulfstream Park.
Student Victor Barboza Jr. was timed 1:03.95 in his first wind since the March 30 Florida Derby. After the defection of the trained Jose D’Angelo There’s no time left who walked out of the five-minute windbreak Sunday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center with an injury, the son of Uncle Mo finishing 21st under the guide will determine the 20-horse field for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1).
“It’s very bad news in Palm Meadows,” Barboza said. “I think 21 is a good spot. Next week, the horse will go to Gulfstream, and if all goes well, he will go to Churchill.”
Grand Mo the First gave his coach exactly what he was looking for Sunday morning.
“It was a very comfortable breeze,” Barboza said. It’s important for me that he finishes strong behind the ropes. “The horse is a happy horse.”
Grand Mo the First raced evenly while chasing Fierceness throughout the 1 1/8 miles of the Florida Derby, finishing 16 lengths behind the 2023 junior champion, 2 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up Catalysis . Three weeks earlier, Uncle Mo’s son missed out on victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) when he finished third after the victory. Domestic products and runner-up No More Time.
Grand Mo the First began his career with back-to-back wins on Gulfstream’s Tapeta before finishing third in the October 8 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) on turf at Santa Anita Park. He began his three-year campaign with a tough third-place finish in the Feb. 3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream before competing in the Tampa Bay Derby.
If Barboza gets the chance to ride Grand Mo the First to start in the Kentucky Derby, it would be a dream come true.
“It’s been a dream since I was a kid in Venezuela,” Barboza said. Every year, I watch the Kentucky Derby.” “Today I have a good chance to run in the Derby.”
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
