Oh, how things can change in just a couple of minutes.
Mohaymen went into the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on April 2 as the solid early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby, down to odds of 7-2 at Sportsbook. But after the dust settled the colt faded to finish fourth for his first career loss while Nyquist remained undefeated and recaptured the role as the betting favorite for the Run for the Roses.
Mohaymen showed plenty of promise from his debut effort, breaking his maiden at Belmont Park going six furlongs in a flashy effort on Sept. 19, and the $2.2 million Keeneland purchase was no secret, sent off at even money.
The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee went right into stakes company, reeling off wins in the Nashua (G2) and Remsen (G2) to become an early Kentucky Derby contender.
He won his first two starts as a three-year-old, taking the Holy Bull (G2) and Fountain of Youth (G2) and the early Derby betting action came in on the talented colt.
He was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the Florida Derby but was no match for Nyquist, finishing 8 ½ lengths back in a disappointing fourth place finish.
The colt finished ninth in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings with 80.
His early Kentucky Derby price has now drifted up to 10-1 while Nyquist will likely go off as the betting favorite on the first Saturday of May.
Horses that finish out of the money in their final prep race do not have a good record on the first Saturday of May, but his connections think he will bounce back and perhaps did not care much for the wet track in the Florida Derby.
The colt has worked sharply since his last outing and he is in good hands with one of the most respected trainers in the U.S. in Kiaran McLaughlin, who has won most of the big races but not the Run for the Roses.
In 2006, McLaughlin saddled Belmont Stakes (G1) Sportsbook Jazil and won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) that year with Invasor.
Mohaymen was purchased at the Keeneland Fall Sale in 2014 for $2.2 million, the top number for any of the offspring of top sire Tapit that year. His mare Justwhistledixie was a multiple graded stakes Sportsbook who earned $449,437.
There is a very good chance this colt is going to bounce back with a much better effort than we saw in the Florida Derby.
Check out Sportsbook for the latest betting odds for the Kentucky Derby.
Handicapper Michael Dempsey provides his full card analysis for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby Day at turfnsport.com. Oddsshark readers can use the coupon code “sport” for 20% off reports!
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