Mihos

MIHOS (c, Cairo Prince-Feline Flatline, by Lion Heart)
'TDN Rising Star' O-Centennial Farms. B-Wayne, Gray and Bryan Lyster. T-James Jerkens. Sales History: $320,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-0-1, $118,960.
Last Start: 5th, GII Fasig-Tipton Holly Bull S., GP, Feb. 2
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0.

Even though this $320,000 KEESEP Cairo Prince colt finished fifth in Saturday's puzzling renewal of the Holy Bull S., Mihos retains a tenuous grip on the No. 12 spot in the rankings. The reason? To me, this 'TDN Rising Star' represents the best chance out of anyone from that race to still be a relevant Derby candidate three months from now. A 29-1 pick-up-the-pieces winner beat out an unfathomable 128-1 runner-up (both still have proving to do), and the 9-10 fave Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief) never fired despite a perfect trip. “He came out real good. He's acting good, but it's disappointing that he didn't like being in that crowd down the backside and all that dirt hitting him,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens told TDN on Sunday. “He [backed] out of there bad on the far turn, but then he made a nice, even run at the end once he was clear. We were afraid of that–he didn't get a lot of bouncing around in his first few races. But he certainly got it [Saturday]. We'll give him a little time. We're not going to run back in the Fountain of Youth. But as far as sticking around for the [GI] Florida Derby or going up for the Wood Memorial, we'll just have to figure it out. We still think he's a nice horse. He acts like a classy sort, so I think he'll take it in and respond to it.”

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