Uncle Heavy emerged as the victorious underdog in a thrilling 1 1/8 mile Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct racetrack in New York.
Despite being a longshot with odds of 9 to 1, this Pennsylvania-bred colt, purchased in utero for a mere $1,700, showcased his talent and determination by edging out El Grande O in a nail-biting finish. With jockey Mychel Sanchez aboard, Uncle Heavy collected 20 Derby points and a well-deserved $250,000 prize.
Trained by Butch Reid Jr., Uncle Heavy demonstrated astute tactics throughout the race. He closely trailed the leaders, El Grande O, Seminole Chief, and Khanate, as they engaged in a fierce battle for supremacy. However, as the race progressed, Seminole Chief and Khanate faltered, leaving El Grande O in the lead. Uncle Heavy steadily closed the gap, executing a wide move around the final turn. With every stride, he gained ground until finally, in a display of sheer determination, he crossed the finish line just ahead of El Grande O, winning by a nose. The clock stopped at 1:53.79 for the challenging 1 1/8 mile distance, run on a muddy and sealed track.
Following the race, Uncle Heavy was temporarily relocated to a farm in Pennsylvania due to an ongoing Equine Herpesvirus quarantine at Belmont Park. Trainer Butch Reid Jr. expressed his satisfaction with the colt's performance, highlighting his sharpness and energy post-race. Uncle Heavy will enjoy a well-deserved rest on the farm before his next start is determined.
Before his victory at the Withers Stakes, Uncle Heavy had already showcased promise with a successful debut around two turns in the state-bred Wait For It race at Parx. Trained by Butch Reid Jr., this large colt is sired by Social Inclusion, a Grade 1-placed son of Pioneerof the Nile, who displayed impressive performances in races such as the Preakness Stakes and Wood Memorial. Uncle Heavy's dam, Expect Wonderful, is a winning New York-bred mare, and his third dam, Stilled, has notable connections to graded stakes-winners.
Uncle Heavy's winning Beyer Figure, a metric used to assess race performance, was calculated to be 84.