Mohaymen Drills Bullet Ahead of Travers Bid

Shadwell Stables' Mohaymen, looking to rebound from his fourth-place finish as the favorite in the July 30 Jim Dandy (gr. II), posted a bullet half-mile breeze at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 19 in his final move before Travers (gr. I) Aug. 27. 

Under regular exercise rider Rob Massey, the gray Tapit   colt was caught in :47.33. He was clocked in :22 2/5 for the first quarter and galloped out to five furlongs in 1:00 flat. The move was the fastest of 75 at the distance.

"He worked well," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "We were happy with the way he did it. Rob said he never felt better. We're under the radar (for the Travers) and hopefully we'll stay there."

Mohaymen, who fetched $2.2 million at the Keeneland September yearling sale, won four straight graded stakes after breaking his maiden, including the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth (both gr. II) at Gulfstream Park to open his 3-year-old campaign. He then finished fourth as the favorite behind Nyquist in the Florida Derby (gr. I), and fourth again in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I).

Given a break by McLaughlin, Mohaymen did not run again until the Jim Dandy, in which he stumbled at the start and then weakened to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind upset winner Laoban in the 1 1/8-mile race.

ANGST: Maiden No More, Laoban Stuns Jim Dandy Rivals

"I don't have an explanation for that," the trainer said. "Funny track? Funny result? But all is well. He's put on some weight since the race and he's just doing really well."

Following their final workouts at Del Mar Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, Bob Baffert's pair of late-blooming 3-year-olds, American Freedom and Arrogate, are set to ship cross-country Aug. 24 for the Travers.

"I'm going to breeze each of them one more time, and as long as they're breezing well, we'll come in that week," said Baffert, who added he would arrive in Saratoga Aug. 25.

Rafael Bejarano, who has been aboard both colts through their most recent starts, will remain on American Freedom.

Arrogate will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

Unlike last year, when an estimated 15,000 people were on hand to watch Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   gallop on the main track the day before the Travers, Baffert is flying a bit under the radar with Haskell Invitational (gr. I) runner-up American Freedom and Arrogate. The latter will be making his stakes debut after three straight wins.

BALAN: Arrogate Wins Easy at Del Mar; Travers Next?

"Totally different scene," he said. "The race is coming up with the 3-year-old championship on the line. It's a huge deal."

Baffert noted American Freedom will race with blinkers off after wearing them in each of his five previous starts, including wins in the Iowa Derby (gr. III) and the Sir Barton. 

"I don't think he needs them anymore," he said.

Destin recorded his final breeze before the Travers when he officially clocked four furlongs in :50 flat on the Oklahoma training track Friday morning. 

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was most pleased with the colt's gallop out, in which he timed the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner up through seven-eighths in 1:29 under regular jockey Javier Castellano.

"I thought he worked very well," Pletcher said. "It was a good, steady breeze similar to what he was doing before the Belmont. It was a good progressive and productive breeze for him."

The Giant's Causeway colt will have what Pletcher said will be a typical schedule this week as he prepares for his first start since finishing third in the Jim Dandy.

"He'll have a session at the gate and a session or two in the paddock, along with some routine gallops," Pletcher said.

With regular rider Joel Rosario aboard, Travers-bound Governor Malibu breezed four furlongs in :50 2/5 on the Oklahoma training track Friday morning.

Although the 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon   is still in search of his first stakes win since he won the Gander Stakes Feb. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack, trainer Christophe Clement said he likes what he sees heading into the $1.25 million Travers

"It was a good work," Clement said. "Joel reported that the horse felt good, and I'm happy with the way he looked, so as of right now we are still on target."

 

Trainer Dallas Stewart sent out Charles Fipke's Forever d'Oro, who, in company with Woody Stephens (gr. II) winner Tom's Ready, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.17 over the Oklahoma training track Friday in advance of his anticipated start in the Travers.

"He's good. He looked good," Stewart said of Forever d'Oro, third behind the Travers-bound Connect and Gift Box in the Curlin Stakes July 29. "He's worked with (grade I King's Bishop-bound) Tom's Ready a few times and has worked with Tale of Verve before. He's doing well. He came out of the Curlin good, so we're looking forward to the Travers. He's going to like the (1 1/4-mile) distance."

Forever d'Oro, a homebred son of 2002 Travers winner Medaglia d' Oro out of the 2002 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Lemons Forever, will be making the second graded stakes start of his career. He finished 13th behind winner Creator in the Belmont Stakes June 11.

 

"Since the Curlin, he's put on weight. He's just beautiful," Stewart said. "He has gotten stronger, so I'm happy about that. He is eating good, his appetite is good, his health is good, so we'll see what happens."

 

Stewart said that Luis Saez will have the mount in the Travers.