Destin, Mohaymen among Travers contenders putting in works

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Both Destin and Mohaymen were disappointing in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes three weeks ago, leaving their connections searching for answers ahead of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers next Saturday.

It remains to be seen if Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Destin, or Kiaran McLaughlin, the trainer of Mohaymen, have found those answers, but both were pleased enough with their horses’ workouts on Friday to march on to what looks like a wide-open Travers.

Destin, third in the Jim Dandy, worked four furlongs in 50.06 seconds early Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track, while Mohaymen, fourth in the Jim Dandy, blitzed four furlongs in 47.03 seconds a few hours late over a glib Saratoga main track. They were among five potential Travers starters to put in workouts on a lovely summer morning at Saratoga.

Travers definite starters Governor Malibu (five furlongs in 1:02.78) and Forever d’Oro (five furlongs in 1:02.05) and possible starter Mo Tom (six furlongs in 1:15.73) also worked Friday over the Oklahoma training track.

In the Jim Dandy, Destin stalked the pacesetting Laoban from second. While Laoban kept on going to pull off the 27-1 upset, Destin just ran evenly, eventually being caught for second by a neck by Governor Malibu.

Jockey Javier Castellano thought Destin lacked focus, and Pletcher opted to equip Destin with a shadow roll for Friday’s workout. Castellano and Pletcher didn’t feel it made much of a difference in the colt’s work, and Pletcher was noncommittal over whether he will use it.

Destin, who worked outside of Anchor Down, went in splits of 24.74 seconds and 25.32 but proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:02.71, six furlongs in 1:15.45, and seven furlongs in 1:28.90.

“I thought it was a good, steady work,” Pletcher said. “I particularly liked the gallop-out. The last three-eighths after the wire I thought was very good. He finished with something left in the tank. Reminded me of his penultimate work before the Belmont, where the time wasn’t real flashy, but it was done the right way.”

Destin finished second in the Belmont, beaten a nose by Creator.

Mohaymen was the 7-5 Jim Dandy favorite, though he hadn’t run since finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby. He stumbled at the start of the race, quickly recovered, but was a non-factor, losing by 5 3/4 lengths.

McLaughlin called the result a head-scratcher. In the colt’s only breeze in between starts, Mohaymen went his first quarter in 23.87 seconds and finished the work in 24.16. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.49.

“Rob Massey worked him, said he felt great, took him there, was on the bridle all the way, strong,” McLaughlin said. “We were really happy. We were hoping he would work great. We’re under the radar a little bit, and he’s doing very well.”

McLaughlin said that Mohaymen has put on a few pounds since the Jim Dandy. Throughout the winter and spring, McLaughlin lamented the difficulty he had keeping weight on the son of Tapit.

Governor Malibu, who ran a troubled fourth in the Belmont Stakes and a decent second in the Jim Dandy, worked four furlongs from the three-furlong pole over the training track. He went in 50.36 seconds, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.78 under jockey Joel Rosario.

“Nice work,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “I was a bit surprised by the time, which was a bit slower than last week, but I think the track was a bit slower. Rosario was comfortable, looks well, finished well, came back in good order. He’s very fit. I don’t think he’s blowing whatsoever.”

Forever d’Oro, third in the Curlin Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:02.17 over the Oklahoma track. He went in company with Woody Stephens Stakes winner Tom’s Ready, who started five lengths behind Forever d’Oro but caught up by the quarter pole. The two finished together through the lane.

Mo Tom, who won the Ohio Derby on June 25, worked six furlongs in 1:15.73 over the Oklahoma training track. Trainer Tom Amoss said he would talk with his owners before making a final decision on the Travers.

As of Friday, the prospective field for the Travers included American Freedom, Anaximandros, Arrogate, Connect, Creator, Destin, Exaggerator, Forever d’Oro, Gift Box, Governor Malibu, Gun Runner, Laoban, Mohaymen, My Man Sam, Mo Tom, and Gettysburg.