McLaughlin likes Tathqeef

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Shadwell Stables purchased two of the three yearlings consigned by Clearsky Farm at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2014. Shadwell spent a combined $3.2 million on a pair of Tapit colts. One became Mohaymen, a four-time Grade 2 stakes winner. The other is Tathqeef, who made his first four starts in Europe, winning one.

The one yearling Shadwell didn’t go for was a son of Unbridled’s Song who sold for $560,000. That colt, Arrogate, won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and Travers and was voted the champion 3-year-old male. He began this year with a victory in the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup and will be heavily favored to win Saturday’s $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mohaymen is in south Florida working his way back to the races, likely in the Westchester at Belmont. Tathqeef recently arrived in New York from south Florida and runs in a first-level allowance at Aqueduct on Friday.

“I wish we liked Unbridled’s Songs now and bought [Arrogate], but we didn’t,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains both Mohaymen and Tathqeef for Shadwell. “This is a nice horse. I really like him, and we’re happy to have him in the barn.”

Tathqeef, away from the races since last May, made his North American and dirt debut Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park. He struck the front at the five-sixteenths pole in the 1 1/16-mile race but was caught late by 18-1 Frammento.

“He ran very well,” McLaughlin said of Tathqeef.

Tathqeef has since come back with a pair of solid works at Palm Meadows and should be tough if he moves forward off that first race.

His competition includes Virtual Machine and Cards of Stone, both recent winners going two turns over the inner track. Virtual Machine, in his first start for David Cannizzo, won a maiden race here by 8 1/2 lengths on Feb. 16. Cards of Stone, returning from a lengthy layoff for Todd Pletcher, won a second-level New York-bred allowance on Feb. 3 by 1 1/4 lengths.

RACE 8 KEY CONTENDERS

Tathqeef, by Tapit Last Beyer: 87

◗ Came off a nine-month layoff with a solid second-place finish in a field of 13 at Gulfstream Park in his first start on dirt.

FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, McLaughlin is 17 for 82 in the second start off a layoff with horses gong long on dirt. During that same period, he is 3-3-0 from six starts over the inner track.

Virtual Machine, by Drosselmeyer Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-94

◗ The third- and fourth-place finishers from the race Virtual Machine won on Feb. 16 came back to run first and second in a March 17 maiden race here.

“I expect a better performance this time,” Cannizzo said. “He was only 80 percent for that race. He’s much fitter, training very, very good, and I expect him to improve off that first effort.”

Cards of Stone, by Bustin Stones Last 3 Beyers: 97-54-70

◗ Came off an eight-monthlay off with a sharp 1 1/4-length victory against second-level New York-bred company. His two best Beyer Speed Figures – 97 and 93 – have come in route races over the inner track. Since Catsadiva won here Feb. 16, Pletcher is 0 for 20 at Aqueduct.