Mohaymen begins build-up to Holy Bull

Unbeaten Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Mohaymen returned to the worktab Thursday for the first time since his victory in the November 28 Remsen (G2).

Subsequently dispatched to his Florida winter home, the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil breezed a half-mile over Palm Meadows’ fast main track in :49.45. Shadwell Stable’s $2.2 million Keeneland September yearling purchase is eyeing the January 30 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

“He looked great,” McLaughlin told Gulfstream publicity. “He was great and happy. He might skip a work, but he’s going to probably work weekly and point for the race at the end of the month.

“It was time to get working again. He’s been training but we just took it easy for a few weeks because we had time. He’s doing very well. We’re real happy with him. He’s a nice horse. We’re looking forward to the Holy Bull.”

As the track notes point out, McLaughlin has used the Holy Bull for his leading three-year-olds in recent seasons. Frosted finished second in the 2015 edition, and Cairo Prince was a dominating winner in 2014. And if you dig a little more deeply in the annals, you’ll find that the McLaughlin-trained Closing Argument captured the 2005 Holy Bull and later went on to miss by a half-length to Giacomo in the Kentucky Derby.

A Tapit half-brother to 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) hero New Year’s Day, Mohaymen has compiled a three-for-three mark so far. The May 2 foal battled back to score on debut at Belmont Park September 19, then rallied to decisive victories in both the November 4 Nashua (G2) and the Remsen at Aqueduct.            

Photo courtesy of NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography.