All of the hype surrounding the season’s debut for Mohaymen was more than justified.
The Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt showed why he has to be considered a top Kentucky Derby contender with a stunning win in Saturday’s $350,000 GII Holy Bull Stakes.
The son of Tapit rated behind long shot Perfect Saint and rival Greenpointcrusader through the backstretch and moved up confidently under Junior Alvarado to edge to the lead in the turn.
Greenpointcrusader remained on his hip as long as he could, but the slight and speedy gray colt was too much and cruised down the stretch to win the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.07.
“It looked like on paper that he might break and be on the lead because there wasn’t much pace,” McLaughlin said. “But when that didn’t happen, I was a little nervous into the first turn and around the turn. But all went great. He’s just a special horse, makes it easy for us to train and to run.”
Mohaymen finished 3 1/2 lengths better than Greenpointcrusader, with Fellowship running third.
With the win, Mohaymen now has 20 points towards a Kentucky Derby post, which in most years would be enough to get in. Add to that the fact that Mohaymen has looked effortless in his three career wins raises the possibility that he may only need one more start before the first Saturday in May.
McLaughlin took that path with his previous Holy Bull winner Cairo Prince two years ago, but said that the plan for his current shooter is to point toward the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27.
“More experience is fine, especially the way he is doing it,” McLaughlin said. “I don’t think he needs to skip races.”
In other stakes races, Cathryn Sophia proved to be a filly to watch for the Kentucky Oaks as she overcame a dodgy start to blast the field in the $200,000 GII Forward Gal Stakes.
Breaking to the inside of her five rivals, the daughter of Street Boss checked up out of the gate and had to settle in off of the pace behind Island Saint and Ballet Diva down the backstretch.
Under Joel Rosario, Cathryn Sophia pulled to the leaders around the far turn, but with the rail covered up Rosario moved her outside of the front-runners heading into the stretch.
Once clear, Cathryn Sophia proved to be the best, easily pulling away to a 5 1/2-length win, her third in as many starts. Island Saint and Ballet Diva finished in order behind.
Sent away at 1-9, Cathryn Sophia covered the 7-furlongs in 1:22.04, picking up 10 points toward a start in the Oaks. Her next prep will likely come in the Davona Dale Stakes to be run on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream.
The day’s 7-furlong test for the boys, the $150,000 GII Swale Stakes, saw favorite Awesome Banner pressed on the early lead by Noholdingback Bear. But when the course straightened, Awesome Banner had plenty in reserve, easily dispatching his rivals to claim a five-length win.
The son of Awesome of Course kept his career record perfect as well, winning his third start in a time of 1:21.81. Economic Model and Richie the Bull rallied for place and show, respectively.
In the $100,000 GIII Sweetest Chant Stakes, Pricedtoperfection hooked Born to Be Winner in deep stretch and would prevail by a 3/4-length. The win was Rosario’s third on the day in his final mount before boarding a plane to Houston to ride in two stakes races at Sam Houston Race Park later in the evening.
Pricedtoperfection took the mile turf race in a time of 1:36.98. Spinamiss put in a late charge on the outside to edge Born to Be Winner for place.
Finally, jockey Emisael Jaramillo swung J R’s Holiday tight to the rail in the stretch of the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes and the 3-year-old colt responded to pass a tight group of contenders and win the mile turf race in 1:35.20.
