Churchill Downs officials said May 6 that Uncle Mo has been scratched out of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, taking place May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The status of the 2010 champion 2-year-old colt has been in question due to ongoing internal health issues. Mike Repole, who owns Uncle Mo and Derby entrant Stay Thirsty (both trained by Todd Pletcher), said the horse has been bothered by a gastrointestinal tract infection diagnosed after the son of Indian Charlie finished third in the April 9 Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes, his first career loss.

Repole said May 5 that veterinary tests taken on Uncle Mo earlier in the day would be analyzed by three veterinarians, and a decision on his Derby status would be determined after consultation with the owner and Pletcher.

Repole explained the three veterinarians who had been treating Uncle Mo (the team headed by Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, director of the medicine clinic at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee equine practice in Lexington, Ky.) hadn’t said the horse could not run, but that Pletcher made the final recommendation not to put the horse in the 1 1/4 mile Derby considering the questions about his health