Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: ‘A lot of options’ there for Mihos

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

After Mihos broke his maiden last November, Don Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms, received plenty of congratulations — plus a few questions about the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

“Listen, we’ve won one race,” Little told people at the time. “That’s a long way to go.”

Then Mihos caught Trophy Chaser late Saturday in Gulfstream Park’s Mucho Macho Man Stakes, a logical step for newly turned 3-year-olds hitting the Derby trail.

“Now we’ve won two races,” Little said. “We still have a long way to go yet.”

But the victory has Little — a lifeline horseman who followed in his father’s footsteps at Centennial Farms — least considering that Mihos could make it all the way to Churchill Downs, same as the partnership’s Wicked Strong in 2014.

“Two in five years — I’ll take it,” Little said.

Mihos, a son of Cairo Prince, is a $320,000 yearling purchase trained by Jimmy Jerkens who figures to go two turns next in a Derby qualifier.

The colt debuted Sept. 23 in what has turned out to be a top maiden flight, as the winner Vekoma went on to win the Nashua (G3) in his next start, while runner-up Epic Dreamer followed up impressively enough to earn favoritism in the Springboard Mile. Mihos was geared down while winning in his second start, then raced wide throughout before taking the Mucho Macho Man by a neck.

“He’ll stay in Florida,” Little said. “There’s a lot of options to get there. You don’t want to force it. I wouldn’t say we’d be running a race a month from now. I think you look at probably two more starts between now and Kentucky. This was a good jump up, and the next one will be an even bigger jump.”

That makes Mihos’ next likely target the March 2 Fountain of Youth. Given it pays out 50 Derby qualifying points for the top spot, the race is essentially a win-and-you’re-in race leading into the March 30 Florida Derby (G1).

“Jimmy’s done everything right by him,” Little said. “He’s not going to put him there if he doesn’t belong there. He won’t say, ‘Oh, we’ve got a Derby horse in the barn,’ of course. But you hear it in his interview after the races. ‘He’s a pro.’

“He’s it. He’s a real classy individual. He’s done everything right since we bought him.”

Jerkens also trained Wicked Strong, who opened his 3-year-old campaign at Gulfstream Park before winning what was then a Grade 1 race, the Wood Memorial. That colt finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby behind California Chrome.

Little credited Susie Raisher, Centennial Farms’ photographer and social media coordinator, for Mihos’ name — an ode to both his sire and dam. The colt is by Cairo Prince and out of Feline Flatline, a Lion Heart mare. And the original Mihos was an ancient Egyptian god of war with a lion’s head. He was also the son of Bast, the Egyptian goddess of cats.

Derby links

• Trainer Doug O’Neill says that “with a little luck,” Magnificent McCool can be his Derby horse. The colt is pointing toward next month’s El Camino Real Derby, in which he’ll take on an impressive looking local runner. 

• HRN’s Bryan Brinkmeyer runs down what we learned last week on the Derby trail, with the column including an updated look at the points leaderboard.

• Trainer John Sadler tells the Daily Racing Form he’s “really, really high” on Nolo Contest, who broke his maiden last Friday at Santa Anita and could point toward the California circuit’s next prep. 

The works

Dream Maker — Off since suffering a hoof injury in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), this Mark Casse trainee has posted three works back in Florida. The maiden winner is a John Oxley homebred who could appear soon at Fair Grounds. Tuesday’s breeze measured five furlongs in 1:01.20.

Kingly — The Bob Baffert-trained full sibling of Mohaymen has turned in five works since his maiden-breaking debut on Dec. 1 at Del Mar, seemingly nearing a follow-up effort. Four furlongs went in 49.20 seconds on Tuesday at Santa Anita.

In case you missed it…

Monday’s Derby Daily report included an update on Knicks Go, the Grade 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up whose path to Churchill Downs is all mapped out. Click here to get the Derby Daily delivered to your email inbox!