Grade I winner Outwork (Uncle Mo–Nonna Mia, by Empire Maker) will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement from racing, it was announced Wednesday. The Repole Stable homebred became the first winner of many for his record-breaking leading freshman sire when he scored first out at Keeneland last April, and returned to annex a Tampa optional claimer in February. Second to stablemate and recent GI Belmont S. runner-up Destin (Giant's Causeway) in the Mar. 12 GII Tampa Bay Derby, he attended an extremely hot pace but held on to take Aqueduct's GI Wood Memorial S. in the mud Apr. 9. He was most recently seen competing in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, and sports an overall record of 5-3-1-0 with earnings of $701,800.
WinStar partnered with Woodford Thoroughbreds to acquire Outwork's breeding rights.
“We are thrilled to work with John [Sykes] and Matt [Lyons] of Woodford Thoroughbreds and Mike [Repole] on such an exciting young Grade I-winning son of superstar stallion Uncle Mo,” Elliott Walden, WinStar President and CEO, said in a release. “Uncle Mo trained here on the farm, and ever since Outwork was born at WinStar, he reminded us of his sire, from the time he was a young horse to when he was in training as a 2-year-old. We have two great farms behind him along with Mike Repole. The sky is the limit on Outwork's stallion career.”
Sykes added, “We have enjoyed great success with Congrats at WinStar, and are excited to partner with them on Outwork. We look forward to supporting Outwork with our quality broodmare band.”
Outwork will continue to race for Repole for the remainder of his career on the track. He is currently being freshened for a summer campaign, and could return in Belmont's GIII Dwyer S. July 9.
“To win a Grade I and a Classic prep in only his fourth lifetime start showed the heart of his sire line,” said Pletcher. “He reminds me of Uncle Mo in so many ways, most notably by his looks, his class, and his ability.”
Repole and Pletcher campaigned both 'TDN Rising Star' and champion juvenile Uncle Mo, as well as Outwork's dam Nonna Mia, who was Grade I-placed as a juvenile. Outwork is a half to MSP Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor), and his MSW and GSP second dam is responsible for MGSW Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile).
“Elliott has loved this horse from day one, and I am excited to be bringing him back to WinStar upon his retirement,” said Repole. “What strikes me the most about Outwork is that he's an identical physical to his sire Uncle Mo, and Outwork has always shown that pure speed of Uncle Mo, both as a 2-year-old and as a 3-year-old.”
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