In a script that has written itself many times over, patience exhibited by the connections of Centennial Farms and trainer Jimmy Jerkens led to what Don Little Jr. called “a very rewarding outcome” on Friday.
Little, president of the Centennial Farms partnership, saw 4-year-old Mihos break on top in Gulfstream Park’s sixth race, then settle in behind a three-way battle for the lead. The Cairo Prince colt engaged through the turn under jockey Tyler Gaffalione when Little thought, “He’s going to walk with this race.”
Mihos went on to win by 3 1/4 lengths, with his final time for seven furlongs in 1:22.55. The effort — Mihos’ first victory since the Jan. 5, 2019, Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream — registered a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Off that Mucho Macho Man score, Mihos naturally went under consideration for the Kentucky Derby. But as Little cautioned anyone who asked, “He hadn’t even run two turns yet.” Connections spent much of the 3-year-old season determining that wasn’t their colt’s game.
Mihos ran fifth in the Holy Bull (G2), then returned in the summer of 2019 to be fourth in the Dwyer (G3). A sixth in the Jim Dandy (G2) and fifth in allowance company capped his 3-year-old season.
“You’ve just got to be patient with them,” Little said. “We’ve always known he’s got the talent. He’s shown it. It just goes to show you that if you do take your time and weather the storm and educate people on the whole process, it can be rewarding.”
Mihos made Friday’s victory his second start of the year after a third-place run going six furlongs last month at Gulfstream. The preference, however, was always to go a bit farther, with a 7/8-mile race a prep for the Westchester (G3) on May 2 at Belmont Park and possible lead in to the June 6 Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
Due to a postponement to the start of the Belmont meet, however, there’s no longer a firm plan moving forward for Mihos amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He came out fine,” Little said. “If he can jump up another couple points, he’s going to be a nice stakes horse.”
Centennial Farms, which last season saw the rise of Preservationist to Grade 1 winner at age 6, will similarly have Rocketry back to the races this season. The veteran distance specialist by Hard Spun and also trained by Jerkens is working at the Palm Meadows Training Center.
Rocketry will be looking for a 1 3/8-mile allowance to get started, with races such as Belmont’s Brooklyn (G2) and the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2) on his agenda.
No major 3-year-old has emerged yet for Centennial Farms, but Little said “I’ve got some in the works,” and “the Derby horse could have not started yet” with the first Saturday in September now the goal. The partnership has unraced sophomores by Curlin, Honor Code and Ghostzapper readying for their debuts.
