Grand Mo the First

Grand Mo the First won his maiden race in his second career start as a 2-year-old in a 5 1/2-furlong race on Gulfstream Park's all-weather track on Sept. 1, 2023. He began his 3-year-old campaign with another sprint outing and finished third in the $125,000 Swale Stakes going seven furlongs on Feb. 3, 2024 at Gulfstream Park.

Grand Mo the First stretched out on the dirt for the first time in his career and stepped up against graded stakes competition in the Grade 3 $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 and fought it out to the finish in that race until eventually settling for third, beaten a total of a neck and a head for the win. The Tampa Bay Derby was a points race on the road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and with his third-place finish, Grand No the First entered the discussion by banking 15 qualifying points.

A final try for Kentucky Derby points came next for Grand Mo the First in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa March 30 at Gulfstream Park. In the 1 1/8-mile race, Grand Mo the First stalked pacesetter and 11-10 favorite Fierceness through the first turn and backstretch along with fellow longshots Catalytic and Le Dom Bro and was soon urged on to engage the leader by jockey Emisael Jaramillo in the far turn. His rally stalled out as Fierceness found another gear and rushed away from the field, but Grand Mo the First did not quit and managed to hold third place over Conquest Warrior. That netted him 25 more Kentucky Derby points, giving him 40 overall and putting him within striking range of making the starting gate in Louisville on May 4.

Grand No the First is trained by Victor Barboza Jr. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Uncle Mo out of the mare Lilies So Fair by Giant's Causeway.