Mohaymen Gets Go-Ahead for King's Bishop
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Mohaymen (3) had rough start in Jim Dandy
Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen will pass on the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course and instead run in the $700,000 Ketel One King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) on the same program.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told New York Racing Association media officials the 3-year-old Tapit colt would opt for the seven-furlong King's Bishop after the Shadwell team, including Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell vice president and general manager Rick Nichols, discussed the plan Aug. 20.
"They like the idea of cutting back (in distance)," McLaughlin said Aug. 21. "It's great for a stallion to have the King's Bishop on his resume. It was a tough decision, but it looks like we would fit very well in the King's Bishop. I'm happy with going in the King's Bishop. I prefer the seven-eighths right now."
Mohaymen, fourth in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) in his last start, worked a bullet half-mile in :47 1/5 at Saratoga Aug. 19. McLaughlin said the four-time grade II winner is fit; he's just hoping for a clean trip.
"I hope he doesn't stumble out of the gate like he did (in the Jim Dandy)," the trainer said.