Mohaymen Has Sharp Work for Holy Bull

Shadwell Stable's undefeated multiple graded-stakes winner Mohaymen signaled his readiness for the Jan. 30 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park with a sharp final work Jan.21.

Under regular exercise rider Miguel Jaime, the Tapit   colt sailed through five furlongs in :59 1/5 on the main track at Palm Meadows Training Center. Mohaymen will make his 2016 debut in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

"He worked great and he continues to do well," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "That was a really nice work. We're a little more than a week away, and we're all excited."

It was the fourth work for Mohaymen since his arrival in South Florida in early December.  He breezed a half-mile in :49 2/5 Dec. 31 and :47 3/5 Jan. 8, with a five-furlong move in 1:01 Jan. 14.

"I wanted him to go (a half-mile) in :48 and he went in :47," McLaughlin said of split in the Jan. 21 work. "It was a little quicker, but he is just doing so well. He did it all on his own and he doesn't blow at all coming back. He cools out so quickly. We're all set. All systems are go."

Mohaymen last year won his debut and then captured the one-mile Nashua Stakes and 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes (both gr. II).  He was a distant second to Nyquist, who went five-for-five in 2015, in Eclipse Award voting for champion 2-year-old male.

"He has just always done so well except Nashua day, when he was a little naughty in the gate and in the paddock," McLaughlin said. "He has been to the gate a few times here and he has been perfect. We're not going to take him (to Gulfstream) to school. I think he's going to be good."

Other horses possible for the Holy Bull include Awesome Speed, winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2; Conquest Big E, eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I)); and recent Gulfstream optional claiming/allowance winner Cherry Wine.

"I would probably like to see him laying third or fourth and hopefully not draw inside, maybe draw from (posts) 4 to 8 and have a chance to be in the clear a little bit; although he handles everything great," McLaughlin said.

Mohaymen has 10 points on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" scoreboard. The Holy Bull, part of the series, awards 10 points to the winner, four for second, two for third, and one for fourth.