GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS RELEASE
Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First breezed six furlongs at Gulfstream Park Tuesday morning in preparation for a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1). The Victor Barboza Jr.-trained son of Uncle Mo, who finished a distant third behind early Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness in the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, was timed in 1:16.48 under jockey Emisael Jaramillo before galloping out a mile.
“The six-furlong workout this morning, I really liked it,” Barboza said. “It was a good work for the horse. He came back to the barn very fresh. He’s ready for the move to Churchill.”
Grand Mo the First is scheduled to travel to Churchill Downs Thursday.
“The horse will go to Kentucky Thursday in the night and will get there early in the morning,” Barboza said.
Jaramillo will follow Grand Mo the First to Kentucky next week. The 47-year-old jockey was a 13-time champion in Venezuela, where he rode three Triple Crown winners, before venturing to South Florida in 2015. He rode in his first Kentucky Derby the following year, finishing far back aboard Gustavo Delgado-trained Majesto.
“Jaramillo has ridden for me more than 400 races in both countries, Venezuela and United States,” Barboza said. “He’s been a good jockey for me.”
Grand Mo the First earned his way into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field with his third in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and a third-place finish in the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), in which he was just a neck behind winner Domestic Product.
