Before He Was "Uncle Mo"

And here he is, in February of 2009, a month shy of his first actual birthday: the newly crowned champion 2-year-old colt of 2010, Uncle Mo.

Uncle Mo at the Greathouse Family's Glencrest Farm as a yearling, with John Greathouse III.

Then, he was known as the ’08 Playa Maya, and he had clearly been having fun being a horse and rolling around in his paddock at Glencrest Farm in Midway, Kentucky.

Now, he will be one of the most closely-watched horses in 2011, as this undefeated son of Indian Charlie embarks on a Classic campaign off one of the most brilliant, though brief, juvenile campaigns in recent history. He will be coiffed and polished to perfection in all his appearances from here on out.

But I love that I knew him when his coat was fuzzy and his mane in knots, when he was a young horse staring straight into the camera, full of unfulfilled promise.

Congratulations to Four Star Sales, who sold him as a Keeneland September yearling on behalf of Glencrest and partners for $220,000, and to owner Repole Stable, trainer Todd Pletcher, and bloodstock agent J.J. Crupi.