Mohaymen Posts Second Breeze, Progresses Steadily Toward 4-Year-Old Debut

By Jordan Sigmon

In his second work back off a lengthy vacation at owner Shadwell Farm’s Kentucky base, four-time grade 2 winner Mohaymen breezed 3-furlongs in :36 at the Camden Training Center on Saturday morning. The now 4-year-old galloped out the half-mile in :48 (with splits of :12 3/5 and :23 2/5 and the last eighth in :12 4/5.)

As brilliant as Mohaymen was through his first five races, it was clear the striking son of Tapit wasn’t the same at the tail end of his 3-year-old campaign. Now a year older, Mohaymen is training toward his seasonal debut under the care of Kevin Kahkola at Camden.

Kahkola called the most recent work, “exceptional. He did it very easy and relaxed, just the way we wanted to see him”.

Walking back toward the barns, Mohaymen still had plenty left in the tank, pleasing the trainer. Kahkola says the key to Mohaymen’s improvement has been the rest and the atmosphere in Camden

“The (work) time was really good, and he finished up strong. He wasn’t blowing very hard afterwards. He’s staying very relaxed down here, which we think is the key to him coming along so well.”

Mohaymen, a $2.2 million Keeneland September yearling in 2015, will breeze a half-mile next Saturday and if that work goes well he could be ready to be sent to Palm Meadows to rejoin the barn of Kiaran McLaughlin. The major early season goal f0r the flashy gray is the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on Belmont Stakes (GI) June 10 after a likely prep in a small stakes or allowance race before.