Loading ...Jan 30 2016
Mohaymen rolls to easy win in Holy Bull G2
Saturday, January 30
Gulfstream Park
Mohaymen found no serious competition again, as he took control at the half mile to win by 3.5 lengths in the Holy Bull G2 at 8.5 furlongs, capping off a big day of 3yo racing across the country.
Heavily favored at 1-5, the $2.2 million son of Tapit proved his worth with his 4th straight win, remaining unbeaten. Previous victories include the G2 Nashua and Remsen at Aqueduct over Jerome G3 winner Flexibility.
Mohaymen remains unbeaten in 4 races
The first start of the year for the Kirian Mclaughlin trainee went as planned, rating behind a slow pace, then taking over at the dictation of Junior Alvarado, who sent him to the lead after a dawdling half mile.
The race started out almost as slow as the Withers, but after Mohaymen took over the lead, it picked up. He completed the 8.5 furlongs almost 4 seconds faster than the winning Withers time. It was the 2nd fastest Holy Bull time of the 18 times it was run at 8.5f.
The other top public choices, Greenpointcrusader and Conquest Big E, 7th and 8th in the BC Juvenile last year, finished 2nd and 4th.
The only surprise was 40-1 longshot Fellowship, who was inserted into the mix midway and held on for 3rd. In his 9th career start, it was his first graded stakes race and gives him a couple Derby points after a horrible 16 length defeat to begin the year.
Mohaymen will undoubtedly be topping many analysts Kentucky Derby rankings in the days to come, and deservedly so. He has obviously done nothing but impress so far, and finally beat some other possible Derby contestants besides Flexibility.
The 10 point win vaults him into 2nd place in the Derby standings at 20 points, remaining 2 points ahead of Withers winner Sunny Ridge. That will likely change on Feb.20, when two horses will win 50 and 20 points for 1st and 2nd the Risen Star.
Also of note is that it sets up Shadwell Stables for a $5.5 million bonus if they also win the Fla Derby and Preakness. Barring injury, the colt will almost certainly run in the Fla Derby on April 2, but will likely have one more prep beforehand. The most likely race would be the Fountain of Youth on 2/27.
