Derby Dozen: Mo Tom ‘a work in progress’ who wants more distance

Mo Tom is not a horse who is going to knock anyone back physically. The lanky son of Uncle Mo still bears the immature look that can come with being a May foal, and trainer Tom Amoss repeatedly reminds that the colt is “a work in progress.”

Progress is exactly what Mo Tom has done in his five career starts with his latest step forward coming when he unleashed a monster kick to win the Grade III Lecomte at Fair Grounds by 2 1/4 lengths on Jan. 16.

Mo Tom put himself on the scene when he came with a wide rally en route to mowing down rivals in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1. The dark bay colt then showed willingness to come up the rail and fell just a head short of beating out eventual Grade I winner Mor Spirit for second in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

Though his bloodlines would indicate he would be a crack sprinter, Mo Tom finishes like a horse who wants more ground, and Amoss said his charge is also still growing up mentally.

“When the distance gets further, the better our horse is going to get,” Amoss said.

Owner: G M B Racing

Trainer: Tom Amoss

Breeder: Hargus & Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm

Bloodline: Dark bay colt by Uncle Mo-Caroni, by Rubiano

Career record: Five starts, 3-0-2, $211,526

Last start: Won Grade III Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 16

Next start: Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 20

Potential trouble: Pedigree says distance could be a problem, but his running style has begged otherwise.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:08 PM with the headline "Derby Dozen: Mo Tom ‘a work in progress’ who wants more distance."