Mohaymen Begins Working Toward Florida Derby

Shadwell Stable's undefeated 3-year-old Mohaymen breezed a half-mile March 11 at Palm Meadows in preparation for his next start in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

          

With regular exercise rider Miguel Jaime aboard, the undefeated son of Tapit   worked four furlongs in :49 2/5, the second-fastest time of 36 horses who ran the distance over the main track at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

           

The work was the first for Mohaymen, the leading 3-year-old prospect on the East Coast, since his 2 1/4-length victory in the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 27.     

PEDULLA: Mohaymen Dominates Fountain of Youth



"He went in :49 and two, but the track was a little dull this morning, a little dry," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who has plans for two more breezes leading up to the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby. "It was probably equivalent to :48 and two, so it was a very good work. We're very happy with him. He's doing great and we're happy to have him back on the work tab."

           

The Fountain of Youth was the fifth victory from as many starts for the colt who was purchased for $2.2 million from the Clearsky Farms consignment to the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. Additional victories have included the Nashua, Remsen, and Holy Bull stakes (all gr. II).

           

"He's doing great. He put on weight from when we brought him down here and he's trained great," McLaughlin said. "Obviously, he's two-for-two this year, so everything is great. No changes. He's happy, and we just want to keep him that way."

           

The 65th running of the Florida Derby could be be an East Coast-West Coast showdown between Mohaymen and undefeated Nyquist, the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner and champion 2-year-old male of 2015 who is based in California with trainer Doug O'Neill.

          

J. Paul Reddam's Nyquist is scheduled to have his final work in California before arriving at Gulfstream March 28.

           

"We need to worry about them all, but obviously Nyquist is a top horse, also undefeated, who won the Breeders' Cup. The distance won't be an issue for him, because he already ran long at Keeneland and was very wide. It's going to be a great race, probably between those two," McLaughlin said. "We'll see who else is in the race, but it is what it is. We're ready. We're training on and doing well and always planned for this. We're staying with our plan."



Also working toward the Florida Derby over Gulfstream's main track was Jacks or Better Farm homebred Fellowship, who breezed four furlongs in :47.53 seconds, the third-fastest time from 30 horses who ran the distance.

           

"He worked like he usually works. People like to use the words 'maintenance work' and I guess that's what it is, because he'll be working again next week," trainer Stanley Gold said. "He's on target for the Florida Derby. Hopefully, everything stays good and we run and make a good showing. Everything's good right now."



Fellowship finished third behind Mohaymen in both the Fountain of Youth and Holy Bull, after running fifth to previously unbeaten Awesome Speed in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2. He was also second in a pair of stakes at Gulfstream Park West after his 12-1 upset in the $500,000 Florida Sire Stakes In Reality at Gulfstream Oct. 3.



"So far he's been right there and he's running against the best, and he'll be running against the best next time," Gold said. "It's certainly not an easy task, but he's finishing and as long as he's finishing, he's got a shot. The extra eighth of a mile is not going to hurt him. We'll see."