Aqueduct: Mudflats, impressive maiden winner, sold and now to be trained by Doug O'Neill

Mudflats, a 2-year-old Tapit gelding who was an impressive winner against maidens at Aqueduct on Dec. 8, has been purchased privately and will now be trained by Doug O’Neill, who won this year’s Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another, according to bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, Doug’s brother.

Dennis O’Neill said he put together a partnership to acquire Mudflats following the maiden win. He said Mudflats would remain in New York for the time being and be pointed to the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome at Aqueduct on Jan. 5. The Jerome was held in late April, at the end of the Aqueduct meet in rercent years, but was rescheduled for the 2013 stakes calendar.

Since the O’Neill family does not have a barn currently in New York, Dennis O’Neill said Mudflats would be housed, for the time being, with trainer Nick Canani.

Mudflats, previously trained by Eddie Kenneally, won the Dec. 8 race by 3 1/4 lengths on a sloppy, sealed track, covering seven furlongs in 1:24.22. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Mudflats finished third in a Belmont Park maiden race to Delhomme in his prior start Oct. 13.