Mandaloun to Make 4-Year-Old Debut in Louisiana Stakes

Juddmonte's Mandaloun , who has been away since winning the July 17 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) via the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie , is set to make his 4-year-old debut in the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"That's our plan," trainer Brad Cox said. "He's really come to hand quick. He looks amazing. Happy with the way his weight is and how he's taken shape. Excited about getting him back going this year and we will see how things go on Jan. 22."

Mandaloun raced three times at Fair Grounds last year, topped by a victory in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). In May of last year, he ran with a second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. If first-place finisher Medina Spirit is disqualified for a betamethasone positive, he could become the official winner.

Later, he scored wins in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes and Haskell, both at Monmouth Park. Mandaloun crossed the wire second a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Haskell, but the rival was disqualified for interference with Midnight Bourbon , and Mandaloun was elevated to first. Midnight Bourbon stumbled due to the infraction and unseated his rider.

"He needed time off," Cox said of the layoff for Mandaloun. "He made that decision easy. We stopped on him and gave him time. For horses to progress, whether it be from (age) 2 to 3 or 3 to 4, they need a break. He's received his break and he's come back."

The son of Into Mischief   was ruled out of major fall races last year due to a sore heel. He returned to the work tab Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, and in December, began steady training in New Orleans.

"Listen, I'm not going to tell you that he's working better than ever because he's always a very, very good work horse to begin with," Cox said. "I think anybody that watched him train up to the Kentucky Derby could believe the way he ran (second at 26-1), the way he was training. He's definitely working as well as he was leading up to the Derby, or the Haskell, so we're in a good spot with him. I think this is a race that makes a lot of sense as far as getting back racing and seeing how it goes."

Also likely for the Louisiana Stakes is Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon, who won the 2021 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, a race in which Mandaloun was favored and finished third.

"They've raced against one another, let's see, one, two, three, four, maybe five times, I don't know, it's a lot," Cox said. "They've mixed it up and made it exciting. Rivalries are good for racing. Midnight Bourbon is a very good horse. He's going to be very tough to beat in that he's not coming in off much of a layoff and we are. He might be a little tighter. He's a big beautiful horse. It will be an exciting match-up. We're looking forward to it." 

Should he perform well, the Mandaloun camp could have designs on the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 26.

"The Saudi Cup is something we'd look at," Cox said. "Ultimately it will come down to the Juddmonte team. They will make the final determination. We work extremely well together. They'll play it the way they always do. Horse comes first. It the horse is doing well and it makes sense, that's definitely something we would look at doing. That was sort of our plan when we got back started in the fall. One step at a time."

As for this year's Lecomte, also Jan. 22, Cox has another talented project expected to run in Gold Square's Cyberknife .

"Right now we are looking at running Cyberknife," Cox said. "He's doing well. He breezed well here the other day (a half-mile in :48 4/5 Jan. 8). I think he's a good colt, I really do."

Disqualified for interference after crossing the line first in his career debut at Churchill Downs in late September, Cyberknife's greenness led to his defeat at the Louisville, Ky., six weeks later, this time on the square. The Gun Runner   colt stretched out around two turns for the first time Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds and took a clear advantage in the stretch, but nearly yielded late. 

"He's obviously raced erratically in all three starts down the lane," Cox said. "I thought he was very impressive here last time up until the last little bit. It's all mental with him. It's nothing we can really fix with him in the mornings. He's a colt that has always been a little tough to handle. He's not straightforward. He's the kind of horse who requires a good hand. He's very immature. I think the talent is there, but he's got to take a step forward mentally, and I think he will. He just needs to race and get some miles underneath him in the afternoons. I think he's going to be a player in the 3-year-old division."