Unbeaten Mohaymen Easily Takes Remsen

Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen stayed unbeaten and added a second straight graded stakes to his record Nov. 28 when drawing away to a clear win in the $300,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Settled just off the early pace set by Donegal Moon as Flexibility pressed from second, Mohaymen rated kindly along the rail in fourth for Junior Alvarado. Flexibility took a narrow advantage off the turn, but Mohaymen willingly drove between him and weakening Donegal Moon when called upon, easily shook off the leader with a furlong to run, and scooted clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

 

A son of Gaineway's leading sire Tapit  , Mohaymen came off a 1 3/4-length triumph over Flexibility in the Nov. 4 Nashua (gr. II) while making just his second start and his stakes debut. He easily vanquished that rival Saturday in covering the 1 1/8-mile, two turn race in 1:50.69 on a fast track.

 

"He got outrun the first part and I didn't want to rush him too much; he can get a little tough," Alvarado said. "I did like last time, sat behind, just tried to wait. By the quarter pole, horses were starting to pick it up and I still had a lot of horse. I just tried to find my way and every time I pushed the button, he's there for me. He makes my job a lot easier."

 

The Remsen is an early points race for next year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Mohaymen earned 10 points with his victory. 

 

Flexibility, one of two entrants from the barn of Chad Brown, outfinished stablemate Gift Box by 1 1/2 lengths for second, as the stablemates picked up four points and two points, respectively. Sail Ahoy picked up one point for fourth.

 

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Mohaymen was a $2.2 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Shadwell Stable from breeder Clearsky Farms' consignment last year. His dam, Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union), was a multiple grade II winner who also produced 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner New Year's Day  , a son of Street Cry (IRE).

 

Mohaymen, getting race-day Lasix for the first time, paid $5.10, $3.30, and $2.50, Flexibility returned $4.60 and $3.30, and Gift Box paid $2.70 to show.

 

"He's a very nice horse," McLaughlin said of Mohaymen. "Junior rode him great, he did everything right and it's a big win for the team. "He did trickle (blood) a tiny bit last time (in the Nashua), so we actually wait right up until they require Lasix to use it and today it worked out great.

 

"I was a little anxious when they were turning for home but it's great to win for Shadwell and I trained (Mohaymen's dam) Justwhistledixie, so it's special to have this horse be this good."