Mohaymen works four furlongs toward Holy Bull

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mohaymen, generally considered the top 3-year-old prospect stabled on the East Coast this winter, took his first step toward the Kentucky Derby since arriving in south Florida by working four furlongs in 49.60 seconds Thursday at Palm Meadows. Mohaymen, a son of Tapit owned by Shadwell Stable, won all three of his starts at 2, capping off his perfect season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. He also won the Grade 2 Nashua over the same track 24 days earlier.

“He worked well and galloped out well,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “We were looking for an easy work starting him out on his weekly work schedule leading up to the Holy Bull.”

The Grade 2 Holy Bull is run at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 30. McLaughlin won the 2014 Holy Bull with Cairo Prince and finished second last year with Frosted.

“We took it easy with him for a little while [after the Remsen] just to fill up the gas tank, but he’s doing very well right now, and we’re looking forward to getting him started in the Holy Bull,” said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin also said that all three horses he ran Dec. 26 at Santa Anita – Cavorting, Marking, and Watershed – have returned to Palm Meadows in good order, but none has returned to the track as of yet.

Cavorting, a leading candidate for an Eclipse Award in the filly and mare sprint division, finished third in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita, while Marking and Watershed finished second and fifth behind likely sprint division champion Runhappy in the Grade 1 Malibu.

“They all came out very well, but we’re going to take it easy with all of them for now, with no definite plans set for any of the three this winter,” said McLaughlin. “Cavorting gave three pounds to the winner [Birdatthewire] and five pounds to the second-place horse [Hot City Girl] in the La Brea and ran very well. We’re happy with her performance, but you like to win. Marking ran huge and was second-best in his race. Watershed was a little disappointing, but he probably wants to go further.”