NYRA PRESS DEPARTMENT

Shadwell Stable’s multiple Grade 2 winner Mohaymen put an exclamation point on his final preparations for the Grade 1, $1.2 million Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap June 10with a bullet five-furlong breeze Sunday morning.|

The time was the fastest of 16 horses at the distance Sunday and the second straight bullet from three works following Mohaymen’s fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Westchester May 6 at Belmont – his first start since late August.

“Did you see him work? Wow, he worked great,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what we were looking for. He did it well within himself, he worked great and galloped out well, so we’re ready.”

Unlike his half-mile breeze May 28 at Belmont, where he was clocked in 47.09 seconds – the fastest of 93 horses – Mohaymen breezed by himself Sunday rather than in company.

“Last week when we had two in front of him, he just got too far back and then he caught up, and it wasn’t ideal for him. So, I said let’s go back to the basics and just work him on his own,” McLaughlin said. “He’s worked three times and he’s worked well all three times. He’s doing very well, so we’ll see.”

Mohaymen broke his maiden at Belmont in September 2015, the first of five consecutive victories to open a career that included the Grade 2 Nashua and Grade 2 Remsen at 2 and the Grade 2 Holy Bull and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at 3. He has gone winless in five subsequent starts, finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 2 Jim Dandy.