“We are thrilled to work with John (Sykes) and Matt (Lyons) of Woodford Thoroughbreds and Mike (Repole) on such an exciting young Grade 1-winning son of superstar stallion Uncle Mo,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar President & CEO. “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.”
Added Mike Repole: “Elliott has loved this horse from day one, and I am excited to be bringing him back to WinStar upon his retirement. 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.”
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Outwork will continue to be campaigned by Repole Stable throughout the remainder of his racing career, before retiring to WinStar’s Versailles, Kentucky operation to take up stud duty. He is currently being freshened for a summer return in New York, which will likely be the one-mile, $500,000 Dwyer S. (G3) on July 9th at Belmont.
“To win a Grade 1 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.”
Outwork became Uncle Mo’s first winner last year after impressively winning his Keeneland debut at 4 ½ furlongs in April of his 2-year-old season. This year at three, the imposing bay colt romped in a six-furlong Allowance race on the Sam F. Davis Stakes undercard at Tampa, setting him up for the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
Making his first start around two turns, Outwork nearly took the field wire to wire in the Tampa Bay Derby, yielding late to stablemate and recent Belmont Stakes runner-up Destin to finish a length back in second, behind a stakes-record performance. The final time of 1:42.82 bettered Street Sense’s previous mark set in the 2007 Tampa Bay Derby.
In just his fourth career start, Outwork shipped to Aqueduct to win the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial (G1), overcoming a contentious pace and wide trip. According to Trakus, Outwork ran 42 feet farther than the runner-up, and he earned a 1 ½ on Thoro-Graph for the performance, giving him wins from 4 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
“We have enjoyed great success with Congrats at WinStar, and are excited to partner with them on Outwork,” said John Sykes of Woodford Thoroughbreds. “We look forward to supporting Outwork with our quality broodmare band.”
Bred and owned by Repole Stable, Outwork has earnings of $701,800 to date. He is out of the Grade 1-placed and multiple-stakes-producing Empire Maker mare Nonna Mia, a three-quarter sister to multiple Grade 2 winner and sire, Cairo Prince.
