Photo by Amanda Weir Hodges/Hodges Photography
After weeks of speculation, it was confirmed on the morning of April 22nd that jockey Corey Lanerie will ride LeComte Stakes (gr. III) winner Mo Tom in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on May 7th at Churchill Downs.
The decision was announced on Twitter by GMB Racing, which owns Mo Tom. The son of Uncle Mo has been ridden by Corey Lanerie in six of his seven starts, but had to check sharply when rallying up the rail under Lanerie in both the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) leading to speculation that Mo Tom would be ridden by a different jockey in the Kentucky Derby. However, after waiting to see what other options Lanerie might have for a Derby mount–Lanerie also had Derby possibilities with Cherry Wine and Unbridled Outlaw, who currently rank outside the list of top twenty Derby contenders–GMB Racing has decided to keep Lanerie aboard for the Derby.
Lanerie has enjoyed remarkable success at Churchill Downs in recent years, leading all riders by races won at each of the last eight meets dating back to September 2013. However, he has only ridden once in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 15th aboard longshot Harry’s Holiday in 2014.
Mo Tom is a son of Uncle Mo out of the Rubiano mare Caroni. He has compiled a record of three wins and three thirds from seven starts, with his only finish outside of the trifecta coming when fourth in the Louisiana Derby. Mo Tom also has experience at Churchill Downs, where he won the Street Sense Stakes and finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) last year.
@coreylanerie & @gmbracing & @TomAmossRacing will team together with MO TOM in the @KentuckyDerby 2016! #LOYALTY pic.twitter.com/Dw57tNtGE1
— GMB Racing (@gmbracing) April 22, 2016
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