Royal Mo

ROYAL MO (c, Uncle Mo—Royal Irish Lass, by Saint Ballado)

O-Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss. B-Brandywine Farm (KY). T-John A. Shirreffs. Sales History: $300,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 6-2-2-1, $267,200.

Last Start: 3rd, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 8

Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Feb. 4

Next start: Possible for GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 6

Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs

KY Derby Points: 30

If Royal Mo goes to the Kentucky Derby, it won't just be to provide company for more accomplished stablemate Gormley, because Royal Mo ran an impressive breakout race when third in the Santa Anita Derby to re-establish himself as a legitimate West Coast contender within the middle tier of the overall division. Parked widest in post 13, Royal Mo was keen to be the outermost aggressor in a three-way duel that consumed the opening six furlongs of the race, and he even briefly thrust his head in front three-eighths out from the wire. He was still in it to win it late in the lane, and a dropped whip near the sixteenth pole may or may not have compromised his chances for a better placing in the final few jumps. The “if” part about Royal Mo going on to the Derby depends largely on leaderboard points, because right now this colt is on the outside looking in. He's currently ranked 22nd with 30 points, and six other horses that have already accumulated points are scheduled to race in this weekend's GI Arkansas Derby.

VIDEO PPS