Mohaymen Sharp in Half-Mile Work

Shadwell Stable's undefeated Mohaymen, regarded by many as the leading 3-year-old on the East Coast, continued preparations for his 2016 debut in the $350,000 Holy Bull (gr. II) coming up Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park with a sharp half-mile work the morning of Jan. 8.

With exercise rider Miguel Jaime aboard, Mohaymen went four furlongs in :47 4/5 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:00 4/5 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

"We had a good morning," McLaughlin reported. "It was perfect, really. He worked in company before his last race and took dirt, but he does everything right by himself. The track was great and we're happy the way he did it, on his own, the right way."

The breeze was the second work for Moyahmen, a gray or roan son of Tapit  , since arriving in South Florida following his victory in the Nov. 28 Remsen (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack. A $2.2 million yearling, Moyahmen won his Sept. 19 debut at Belmont Park prior to a win in the Nashua (gr. II) Nov. 4 at Aqueduct.

LEWYN: Unbeaten Mohaymen Easily Takes Remsen

McLaughlin is targeting the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull for Mohaymen's sophomore debut while keeping an eye on Gulfstream's other major 3-year-old races, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 27, also at 1 1/16 miles, and the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at 1 1/8 miles.

"We're looking forward to getting going in the Holy Bull and from there hopefully keep going on the right track," he said. "The Fountain of Youth is the next obvious spot but we could skip it and point for the Florida Derby or something else. We'll be nominated to everything. We hope he likes the track and wins the Holy Bull and we keep going from there. That's the main thing."

Mohaymen is one of three finalists for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2015, along with unbeaten multiple grade I winner Nyquist and Airoforce, a grade II and III winner last year. He currently ranks eighth on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), with 10 points.

"It means a lot to be finalist for the 2-year-old championship honors with a very nice colt who's undefeated. It's great to have him in the barn and under our care for a great owner," McLaughlin said.

"Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum has been a supporter of our team since 1993 when I went to Dubai. It's great to have such a well-bred colt out of Justwhistledixie, who we also trained. It's a lot of fun."