Uncle Mo a no show in Wood, runs 3rd in huge upset

NEW YORK (AP) - Uncle Mo is unbeaten no longer.

Toby's Corner surged past Uncle Mo and Arthur's Tale in the stretch to post a shocking upset in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday.

Uncle Mo came into the Grade 1 Wood as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby in four weeks, but that will all change after one of the biggest upsets in the 87-year history of the Wood.

Sent off as the overwhelming 1-10 favorite against what was supposed to be a weak field, Uncle Mo controlled the race from the start. But when the 10 3-year-olds turned for home, Uncle Mo could not come up with his usual strong finish despite jockey John Velazquez's best efforts.

First Arthur's Tale went past him, then Toby's Corner went past both of them to win by a neck. Uncle Mo, ridden by John Velazquez, was another length back in third.

``I can't say I'm shocked, but I'm disappointed,'' said Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo's trainer.

It was the first defeat for Uncle Mo after the son of Indian Charlie had rolled over the opposition in winning four races by a combined 27 lengths, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs to cap his 2-year-old championship season.

Not one rival was given much of a chance to topple mighty Uncle Mo in the Wood, but on a bright, sunny day, it was Toby's Corner who came through.

Toby's Corner, the second betting choice at 8-1, came into the race off a third-place finish in the Gotham Stakes last month at Aqueduct. But the chestnut colt is a son of Bellamy Road, who won the 2005 Wood by a record 17 lengths.

Secretariat's loss to stablemate Angle Light in 1973 is considered the biggest upset in Wood history, but this one has to be pretty close after all the prerace buildup centering on Uncle Mo, owned by Mike Repole.

Pletcher, who won his first Derby last year with Super Saver, is likely to bring Uncle to Churchill Downs if he comes out of the Wood in good physical shape.

``It goes without saying that if he wins by 10 today he goes in there (the Derby) with quite a bit different morning line than he is now,'' Pletcher said. ``It doesn't mean we're not going to go, it doesn't mean we are going to go.

``We'll see how he comes out of it and make sure he's physically OK, that's a priority.''

Norman Asbjornson was fourth, followed by Isn't He Perfect, Starship Caesar, Son of Posse, Preachintothedevil and Duca.

Toby's Corner returned $19.40, $7 and $2.50. Arthur's Tale paid $11 and $3.30, and Uncle Mo returned $2.10 to show. The winning time was 1:49.93.

Toby's Corner, trained by Graham Motion, earned $600,000 for owner Dianne Cotter to boost his earnings to $722,240 and put him in the mix for the Derby on May 7.