Derby Watch pedigree profile: Mohaymen

MohaymenBy Tapit–Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

($2.2 million purchase by Shadwell Stud at 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale)

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From a bloodstock standpoint, Mohaymen is one of the horses who ticks all the boxes on this year’s Kentucky Derby trail. By a leading sire who also is a commercial juggernaut and out of a graded stakes winner who had already produced a Grade 1 winner, Mohaymen co-topped the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. He has lived up to those credentials by emerging as a prominent Kentucky Derby contender.

His dam, Justwhistledixie, was a stakes winner as a juvenile and went on to an accomplished spring campaign at 3, winning the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes at a mile and Grade 2 Bonnie Miss Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, both at Gulfstream Park. Forced to scratch from the Kentucky Oaks with a foot ailment, she returned later in the season to finish second in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont and the Grade 2 Top Flight at Aqueduct, both at a mile.

Justwhistledixie is now the dam of three winners from as many starters, led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day and multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen. Both have succeeded at two-turn distances. New Year’s Day finished third at six furlongs in his first start, won in his subsequent outing when stretched out to a mile, then won the 1 1/16-mile BC Juvenile in what would be his final start. Mohaymen has won all four of his starts – two of them around two turns – at distances up to 1 1/8 miles. Both Mohaymen and New Year’s Day were sired by classic-type stallions. New Year’s Day is by Street Cry, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner and champion Street Sense and champion Zenyatta. Mohaymen is by two-time reigning leading sire Tapit, sire of Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and champion Untapable.

Justwhistledixie’s dam, the Honour and Glory mare General Jeanne, scored both her wins at a mile. She also produced Chace City, a Grade 2-winning juvenile; Bakken, second in the Grade 2 True North Handicap sprinting; and stakes-placed Dominant Jeannes. General Jeanne is a half-sister to six stakes performers, led by Grade 2 Prioress Stakes winner Penny’s Reshoot. It is the family of graded winners Smooth Air and Overdriven.

Broodmare sire Dixie Union also is represented on this year’s Triple Crown trail by Mor Spirit, who is out of his daughter Im a Dixie Girl.