Crystal Quest Gives Uncle Mo 100 BT Stakes Winners

Uncle Mo's Crystal Quest rallied down the stretch to win the Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs March 24 to give his sire his 100th black-type stakes win. It was the third win in four starts for the 3-year-old, who made his debut finishing 10th in a Dec. 3, 2023 maiden optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, where he ran his first three races. With Javier Castellano in the irons, the Florida-bred Crystal Quest went five wide at the far turn to challenge the leaders. Refusing to give in, Crystal Quest went on for a 3/4-length victory over a firm turf. He stopped the clock for the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:41.86. The colt is a Live Oak homebred and is trained by Michael Trombetta. In addition to his three wins, Crystal Quest has $122,400 in earnings. He is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Giant Crystal. Uncle Mo stands for $150,000 at Ashford Stud In Versailles, Ky. He was the fourth-leading sire by progeny earnings in 2023 and was among the top eight in the three years prior. He entered stud in 2012 and his all-time top earner is Nyquist, who banked more than $5 million. Uncle Mo, who was a champion 2-year-old colt in 2010, is sire to three champions (Nyquist, Rosalba Maria in Venezuela, and Kalina in Mexico) from his 11 crops. He also has 49 graded black-type winners. Through March 24, his progeny have earned $112,576,564 for an average of $91,081.