Coach Rodolphe Brisset’s endurance with Mullikin was rewarded July 6 when the son of Violence posted his first black-type victory within the $194,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) on the Belmont on the Large A assembly.
A $500,000 yearling acquisition on the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Mullikin made his racetrack debut final February as a 3-year-old for homeowners Siena Farm and WinStar Farm. It took him a few tries, however Mullikin dominated by double digits in his third outing at Churchill Downs. That will be the colt’s sole win of 2023 earlier than he was put away for the remainder of the yr, solely to resurface with vigor as a 4-year-old in a glowing efficiency in opposition to first-level allowance firm through the Keeneland spring meet.
One other victory simply as spectacular adopted in a second-level allowance at Churchill June 8, and with few circumstances left, the chocolate-coated colt made the leap to graded stakes competitors Saturday.
The bounce proved effectively inside Mullikin’s attain, because the colt gained with authority underneath jockey Flavien Prat.
Flanking a vigorous early tempo of :22.54 and :44.87 set by Prevalence , Mullikin drew alongside the front-runner turning for house and took management down the lane. Underneath regular encouragement from Prat, Mullikin repelled a daring bid from Coastal Mission to strike the wire 1 1/2 lengths in entrance in 1:20.54 for the seven furlongs on a quick important observe. The ultimate was solely two ticks off Artax’s 1:20.04 observe report set in 1999.
“He simply has a really excessive cruising velocity, and he was sport down the lane,” Prat stated. “I believe Rodolphe (Brisset) did an incredible job to convey him to that time and the horse has improved race after race.”
Mullikin returned $4.40 because the 6-5 post-time favourite.
Coastal Mission, a hard-knocking West Virginia-bred, saved runner-up honors to take his profession bankroll to $731,653.
“No excuses, I had an ideal journey. Once I requested him, he responded, like he often does, simply could not go by (the winner),” jockey Arnaldo Bocachica stated of Coastal Mission.
Ninetyprcentmaddie , the longest shot on the board within the discipline of 5, accomplished the trifecta.
Saturday’s rating has put the Aug. 24 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on the radar for the enhancing Mullikin. Brisset, who admitted he ‘cherished’ the colt from the time he laid eyes on him as a 2-year-old at WinStar Farm, has been inspired by Mullikin’s psychological and bodily improvement through the previous yr.
“It seems to be like he is stepping up with the time (he posted), so we’ll see how the quantity comes again, convey him house, and go from there,” Brisset stated.
Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding, Mullikin is the third winner produced by the Congrats mare Tulira’s Star . Mullikin is her first stakes winner. The graded stakes-placed mare additionally has a 2-year-old filly by McKinzie , a yearling colt by Maxfield , and delivered a Liam’s Map colt this previous time period.
