Mo for the Money headed to Rebel, Synchrony bypassing race

Edited Press Release

Mo for the Money, an impressive entry-level allowance winner sprinting February 7 at Oaklawn Park, is pointing for the $900,000 Rebel (G2) on March 19, trainer Tony Dutrow said Friday morning.

The Uncle Mo colt will be making his two-turn debut in the Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile race that serves as the final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 16.

In his local debut, Mo for the Money came from well off the pace to post a 5 1/2-length victory. The Kentucky-bred bay covered six furlongs in 1:11.25.

“He liked the race track,” Dutrow explained. “He’s trained well over the track. I feel very good that that horse will not have trouble with the distance. That’s where we’re at.”

Mo for the Money was an October 28 debut winner at Belmont Park. He then finished a well-beaten third in his only stakes try, the November 27 King’s Swan at Aqueduct, before shipping to Laurel for a fourth-place run against allowance/optional claiming rivals in his January 4 sophomore bow.

Dutrow said Mo for the Money is scheduled to breeze Saturday, which would be his second work since his 5 1/2-length blowout victory which netted the colt a 91 BRIS Speed rating.

Also scheduled to work Saturday at Oaklawn are projected Rebel starters American Dubai and Dazzling Gem.

One who is not Rebel bound is Synchrony, trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said.

Synchrony began his three-year-old campaign with a strong third-place finish in the January 18 Smarty Jones, but the Tapit colt fell off the Arkansas Derby trail after finishing sixth in the Southwest (G3) on February 15. He was beaten 9 3/4 lengths by stablemate Suddenbreakingnews, who is headed to the Rebel.

“This time of year, you have to perform if you want to continue running in some of those races,” Von Hemel said. “I think at this time, it’s probably just going to be more prudent to back off a little bit and make sure we have a good horse the rest of the year.”

Von Hemel said next-race plans are pending for Synchrony, but he could resurface before the Oaklawn meeting ends April 16. After finishing second in his September 12 career debut at Churchill Downs, Synchrony won his final two starts last year. He was beaten two lengths in the Smarty Jones, his stakes debut.

Screenshot of Mo for the Money's Oaklawn win