Uncle Mo

Uncle Mo pictured. Click to enlarge and view bandages. I have never been able to figure out this bandaging stuff, but then there's a lot I have been unable to figure at the race track. What works, I guess. Must make horse terribly uncomfortable in terms of heat build up.

At our farm performance currently involves walking without a without a limp. And so, who am I to criticize any body's training since around here at conclusion of 4th month of the year we are nowhere. This aside I thought it interesting in view of his latest breeze to take a brief look at Uncle Mo and his Derby prospects. A more scientific view of this sort of thing a little later. For today just some wild speculation that anybody familiar with athletic performance ought to be able to make.

The connections as always going googlyeyed over the latest 1:02 5f that essentially by the fractions slow :13s with a dash down the stretch. My reaction was, well, at least they decided on 5f since the horse has been doing 4fs all year. More importantly though, can Mo possibly put on a performance in the Derby being limited for the last 30 days pre to maybe 2 to 7 (depending on next breeze) twelve second furlongs in 30 days. There are multiple Qs.

First, doing that little real work in 30 days before a major event would in my world put the horse behind the 8 ball. Regardless of talent, how can the muscular structure and chemistry of this horse possibly be suited to going all out in a 1.25 mile race with this kind of absurdity? Without a doubt Mo's natural talent will cruise along at a high rate for a while. Unknown how the horse can possibly do anything but fade in the stretch based on what shows.

Then second there is the distance and lack of speed training for the distance. What these connections seem to think--and knowing their mental approach would be interesting--the horse is so talented he simply fails to need any serious training. It's the Kiaran McGlaughlin nonsense again of why do more when less will do, most likely.

The above is very simplified and too little time today to get into this deeply. Present the Q for anyone interested for further thought.
Training
the abscess was at the farm followed by 2-3 inches of rain in several showers. And, we being without a stall, predictably the abscess worsened. Rain has stopped and so I became agressive with it last night digging out enough sole basically exposing significant laminae. My experience--that will keratinize quickly in two days in the dry. Bandaged and the horse went from a severe abscess limp last night to running 2f to the feed tub this morn. Was a run at a limp--but the limp looked more like pressure on exposed laminae than abscess limp. Maybe I got it. Will get back on tonight.