One of these days, Butch Reid is certain, his 3-year-old colt Uncle Heavy is going to jump up and win one of these big races.
He’s hoping that day comes Saturday when the veteran Parx-based trainer brings Uncle Heavy out of his stall and into the Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby.
In five starts this year, Uncle Heavy, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Social Inclusion owned by Milam Racing Stables and LC Racing, has one win. That came in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct when he upset the field at odds of 9-1.
What followed was a fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April, a sixth in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes in May and a fifth in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in June.
Last month, he was third in the Smarty Jones at Parx, the traditional local prep for the Pennsylvania Derby.
Uncle Heavy is 12-1 on the Derby morning line.
“We have not lost faith in him,” Reid said. “He is a conundrum, that horse, but he is a big, strong, sound horse. One of these times, he is going to jump up and pay about $87 where he gets the right trip and things are going to fall his way.”
Uncle Heavy the horse is clearly a fan favorite.
“Parx is home, and it would be a big one,” Butch Reid said about Uncle Heavy winning the Pennsylvania Derby. “Everyone follows Uncle Heavy. He will come through for the local crowd one of these days.”
Original source credited to paulickreport.com
Cover Photo Credit to Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo
