Mohaymen Among 24 Nominated to Holy Bull
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Shadwell Stable’s Mohaymen is prominent among 24 nominations for the $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2), a key Florida Derby (G1) and Triple Crown prep scheduled for Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park.
The undefeated Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt is being pointed to the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds, in which the son of Tapit is scheduled to seek his fourth straight victory and third-straight Grade 2 stakes success.
The Holy Bull will highlight a program with five stakes, four of them graded, including the $200,000 Forward Gal (G2), $150,000 Swale (G3), $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) and $100,000 Kitten’s Joy.
Mohaymen, a $2.2 million purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September sale, has been an authoritative winner of all three lifetime starts, including a front-running debut winner at Belmont Sept. 19, before doubling up at Aqueduct in the Nashua (G2) and Remsen (G2). The gray colt is in training at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
Conquest Stables’ Conquest Big E, who followed up an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland with an impressive allowance victory at Churchill Downs Nov. 28, is also in training for the Holy Bull at Palm Meadows. Also a son of Tapit, Conquest Big E is trained by Mark Casse.
St. Elias Stable, MeB Stables and Brooklyn Boyz Stables’ Greenpointcrusader, the winner of the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont is among the most accomplished nominees for the Holy Bull. The Kentucky-bred son of Bernardini finished a troubled and very wide eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his 2-year-old finale.
William Pacella and Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Cherry Wine, an impressive winner of his last two starts for trainer Dale Romans, followed up a 9 ¼-length maiden victory at Churchill Downs with a six-length romp in an optional claiming allowance race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 9.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, currently on his way to his 13th consecutive Championship Meet title, has nominated six 3-year-olds to the Holy Bull: Alto Racing’s Azar, Harrell Ventures’ Battery, Twin Creeks Racing’s Destin, WinStar Farm’s Gettysburg, Paul Pompa’s Rally Cry, and Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Stonestreet Stables’ Zulu.
Dede McGehee’s Dolphus, a half-brother to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, has been nominated to make his stakes debut in the Holy Bull. Trained by Joe Sharp, the son of Lookin At Lucky captured his debut Nov. 22 at Fair Grounds Nov. 22 before finishing third in an entry-level optional claiming allowance Dec. 18.
Wertheimer and Frere’s Rafting, a 2 ¼-length victor in the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 18; Richie’s Usual Suspect’s Richie the Bull, a 9 ¼-length winner of the Futurity at Hawthorne Dec. 12; and Fellowship, the winner of the $500,000 Florida Sire Stakes In Reality and Smooth Air runner-up; are among the Holy Bull nominees with stakes credentials.
The Holy Bull will be followed on Gulfstream’s Road to the Triple Crown by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb 27 and the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.
The Swale, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, attracted 21 nominations, including undefeated Awesome Banner, the Jacks or Better Farm homebred colt who captured the Hutcheson (G3) at Gulfstream Jan. 2. The Stanley Gold-trained colt shook off early pressure to draw away to a 4 ¾-length victory in the six-furlong Hutcheson off a seven-month layoff in only his second career start. The son of Awesome of Course debuted at Gulfstream with a 9 ¾-length romp, setting a track record for 4 ½ furlongs.
Pletcher nominated seven horses for the Swale, including Repole Stable’s Outwork, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Pinstripe, Siena Farm’s Prospectus, Les’s Go Stable’s Ready Dancer, and Twin Creek Stable’s Saratoga Mischief, as well as Rally Cry and Zulu.
The Forward Gal, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies and mares, drew 25 nominations. Cash Is King’s Cathryn Sophia, a winner of her two career starts by a combined 29 lengths is among the most notable nominations. The John Servis-trained filly debuted Oct. 30 at Parx Racing with a handy 12 ¾-length triumph. The daughter of Street Boss followed up her debut at Laurel Dec. 5 with an equally impressive performance, streaking to a 16 ¼-length score in the Gin Talking Stakes.
Pletcher nominated five fillies to the Forward Gal: Red Oak Stable’s Daring Bride, Starlight Racing’s Holders Season, Siena Farm’s Island Saint, Mathis Stable and Head of Plains Partners’ Sophia’s Song, and StarLadies’ Tonasah.
Ivan Dalos’ Ami’s Mesa, the Glorious Song Stakes winner who has won both of her starts at Woodbine; J. Stable’s Off the Tracks, who won the Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga in her last start; Jacks or Better Farm’s Ballet Diva, a multiple-stakes winner who finished third in the Old Hat (G3) last time out; and Conquest Babayaga, the Glorious Song runner-up; are also Forward Gal nominees.
The Sweetest Chant, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, attracted 35 nominations, including Ami’s Mesa, Daring Bride, Holders Season, Island Saint, Sophia’s Song and Tonasah.
Mathis Stable’s Lira, one nine Pletcher-trained nominees, has won all three career starts, all on turf, including the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream Park West and the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream. Stablemates Spinamiss, and Irish-bred import who captured her U.S. debut for St. Elias Stable in a Tampa Bay optional claiming allowance at Tampa, and Michael Tabor’s Thrilled, the runner-up in the Demoiselle (G3) at Aqueduct in her last start, are also nominated.
Klarvich Stable and William Lawrence’s Pricedtoperfection , trained by Chad Brown, rebounded from a wide ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) with a late-closing second in the Ginger Brew.
The Kitten’s Joy, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, drew 24 nominations, including nine Brown-trained 3-year-olds. Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence’s Life Imitates Art, who captured the Dania Beach (G3) at Gulfstream with a late rush last time out; John Eaton and Steve Layman’s Artytype, an Irish import who broke his maiden at Dunkirk in his second start; and Converge, a runner-up in the Awad Stakes at Aqueduct; are among the Brown nominees.
Source: Gulfstream Park
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