Uncle Mo's New York owner in Derby state of mind
April 7, 2011NEW YORK (AP) - Mike Repole is a New Yorker through and through. The kid from Queens used to play stickball and schoolyard basketball. And he loved those bus rides to Aqueduct, where he could bet on the horses.
He went to St. John's, roots like crazy for the New York Mets and turned his business background into billions as co-founder of Glaceau, the maker of Vitaminwater and Smartwater.
He also owns Uncle Mo, the top Kentucky Derby contender and heavy favorite for Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
The 42-year-old Repole says he always wanted to own horses. And those who know him well believe he'll eventually end up in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.