Uncle Mo's Moon Colony Too Strong in Penn Mile

Uncle Mo | Coolmore photo

John Oxley's Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) rode the rail to a 9-1 upset in the $500,000 GIII Penn Mile Saturday evening at Penn National. Away in good order from his rail draw, the $400,000 KEESEP buy ran back off the pace in sixth, skimming the rail as Real News (The Factor) carved out opening splits of :22.71 and :47.60 with favored GSW A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun) pressing from a half-length second. Slipping up the fence to take closer order entering the far turn, the bay burst through on the rail to take control in mid-stretch and extended clear to score by 1 1/4 lengths over Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed).

Fourth to a 'TDN Rising Star' performance from Mucho (Blame) when unveiled on the dirt at Saratoga Aug. 4, Moon Colony filled the same spot behind next-out graded winner Forty Under (Uncle Mo) when extended to two turns and switched to the grass at the Spa three weeks later. Fifth in a main track optional claimer at Churchill Downs Oct. 28, he returned to the winner's circle next out when switched back to the grass at the Fair Grounds Nov. 29. Kicking off this term with a fifth to Casa Creed in Gulfstream's 7 1/2-panel Kitten's Joy S. Jan. 5, the bay displayed a series of bullet drills leading up to this event, most recently breezing a best-of-20 half-mile in :46 2/5 at Belmont May 24.

Pedigree Notes:

Moon Colony is the 25th graded stakes winner and 50th black-type scorer for Coolmore's Uncle Mo. His graded stakes-winning and MGISP dam Promenade Girl summoned $1.125 million at the conclusion of her racing career at the 2007 Keeneland November Sale and resold for $335,000 carrying a foal by War Front at the 2012 renewal of that auction. The 17-year-old mare is best known as the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Cavorting (Bernardini), who carried the Stonestreet Stables colors six graded victories, three of which were Grade Is, for over $2 million in earnings. Promenade Girl also produced MGSP 'TDN Rising Star' Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty), who is under consideration for the upcoming GI Stephen Foster H. The mare's more recent produce includes a yearling filly by Tapit and a Liam's Map filly born Feb. 4 of this year. Moon Colony also hails from the family of Grade I winners Another Review (Buckaroo) and No Review (Nodouble) and MGSW & GISP Dance Colony (Pleasant Colony).

Saturday, Penn National
PENN MILE S.-GII, $500,000, Penn National, 6-1, 3yo, 1mT, 1:37.45, yl.
1–MOON COLONY, 116, c, 3, by Uncle Mo&log=">Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Promenade Girl (GSW & MGISP, $678,990),
by Carson City
2nd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
3rd Dam: Dance Review, by Northern Dancer
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($400,000
Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-John C. Oxley; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse; J-Julien R. Leparoux. $291,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-3-0-0, $370,635. *1/2 to Cavorting (Bernardini),
MGISW, $2,063,000; Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty), MGSP,
$393,170. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Casa Creed, 116, c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Achalaya, by Bellamy
Road. ($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $105,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP).
O-LRE Racing LLC & JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver Springs
Stud, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $97,000.
3–Real News, 116, c, 3, The Factor–Missy's Advantage, by
Tactical Advantage. ($85,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Town and
Country Racing, LLC & Gary Broad; B-Georgia Farms Inc (KY);
T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. $53,350.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 9.80, 4.60, 6.50.
Also Ran: A Thread of Blue, Fluminense, The Black Album (Fr), Conative, Forty Under. Scratched: Empire of War.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

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