Mohaymen switches to turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – Looking to resuscitate his once-promising career, Mohaymen will change surfaces and try turf for the first time Friday in a stakes-caliber allowance race going a mile at Belmont Park.

Mohaymen, a son of Tapit, won the first five races of his career, including four Grade 2 stakes, before losing his next six starts. Most recently, Mohaymen finished 11th in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin worked Mohaymen a half-mile on the Saratoga turf training course on June 29 and was pleased enough with the move – timed in 49.40 seconds – to give it a try in the afternoon.

“He doesn’t have to win it to say, ‘All right, great, he likes the turf. Let’s find another race for him,’ ” McLaughlin said Wednesday. “Hopefully, he can win, but if not, just show some form like he used to have.”

Mohaymen, who won the Remsen at 2 and the Fountain of Youth at 3, will be reunited with jockey Junior Alvarado, his rider for his first nine starts, who recently returned from shoulder surgery.

Friday’s race, which drew 12 for the turf plus three for the main track only, came up like a graded stakes race. Six of them are nominated to the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes, also at a mile here on July 15.

Trainer Christophe Clement entered Blacktype and Lubash, both Grade 3 winners, in Friday’s allowance heat. Blacktype, who is parked in post 12, was held out of the Grade 3 Poker Stakes on June 18 due to a temperature.

“I wanted to give him an easy allowance race, which on paper doesn’t look to be the case, so I’m not sure if I’m not better off running in the Forbidden Apple,” Clement said.

Big Changes, Tombelaine, and Inspector Lynley are others in here with a chance.

This $90,000 allowance race goes as race 7 on a card that starts at 3:05 p.m. Eastern and has a pick-six carryover of $41,536.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blacktype, by Dunkerque Last 3 Beyers: 98-98-103

◗ One of six entered in here under the “have not won a race in 2017” condition, he is coming off a troubled-trip third in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico.

◗ Has won two races similar to this at Belmont Park but must overcome the outside draw.

Big Changes, by Midshipman Last 3 Beyers: 94-73-91

◗ His two races since returning from a layoff and being gelded were both solid, with one being a neck loss to Sir Dudley Digges, last year’s Queen’s Plate winner, on June 15 at Churchill.

◗ Looks to have tactical speed to get good position in this bulky field.

Tombelaine, by First Defence Last 3 Beyers: 95-101-95

◗ Though beaten a length as the 1-2 favorite in a third-level allowance race here June 4, the horse who beat him, Dowse’s Beach, came back to win again here on Sunday with a careerbest 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Talented enough to beat Get Jets, a next-out winner, in a second-level allowance race here on May 7.

Mohaymen, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 85-82-83

◗ A true wild card as he tries turf for the first time after two dismal efforts in graded stakes company on dirt to begin the year.