Mandaloun fires a bullet five furlongs as he nears return
Midnight Bourbon and Mandaloun faced each other five times during their 3-year-old seasons of 2021 and are on course to meet again in their first races at age 4.
Both colts are aimed toward the Jan. 22 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds and the two could hook up again in the $20 million Saudi Cup.
Mandaloun has been out of action since being placed first via Hot Rod Charlie’s disqualification in the July 17 Haskell Stakes. On Dec. 27 at Fair Grounds, Mandaloun posted the fifth timed workout of his comeback, going a bullet five furlongs in 59.60 seconds.
“He’d worked pretty solid the week before, too,” said Brad Cox, who trains Mandaloun for Juddmonte. “This was a real good move; he went out six furlongs in 1:13 and change. We’ll talk it over with Juddmonte, but the Louisiana seems like a realistic spot.”
Knicks Go, soon to be named 2021 Horse of the Year, also worked five furlongs Dec. 27 staying on course to make his career finale in the Pegasus World Cup, which he won in 2021.
Late on the Dec. 26 Fair Grounds card, Cox sent out back-to-back 2-year-old maiden winners, Gilded Ruler in a sprint, Cyberknife in a route. Gilded Ruler, who earned an 81 Beyer for wearing down the talented Peaceful Waters, will be kept sprinting, Cox said.
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Cyberknife, who was disqualified from a debut win in a Churchill sprint, got an 80 Beyer and won his two-turn debut despite stumbling at the start and losing his focus after making the lead in upper stretch. Cox said he’d be considered for the Lecomte and the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. “The talent’s there; he’s just got a lot of improving to do mentally.”
Concert Tour, unraced since a Preakness flop in May, was scratched from the Dec. 27 Woodchopper because the race stayed on turf and Cox, who only began training Concert Tour early this fall, was hoping for a rain-off onto the main track. Now, Concert Tour will return to racing either in a third-level allowance race or the Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 15 at Oaklawn.
Meanwhile, Juju’s Map, second in the BC Juvenile Fillies after winning the Grade 1 Alcibiades, will join Cox’s string at Fair Grounds sometime in January following a winter freshening. Cox said if all goes well Juju’s Map could make her 3-year-old debut in March.