Mihos (Cairo Prince) earned his diploma in impressive fashion at second asking to become the latest 'TDN Rising Star' at Aqueduct Saturday. He finished third on debut going six panels at Belmont Sept. 23, a race that was further flattered when winner Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) returned to take the GII Nashua S. and runner-up Epic Dreamer (Orb) came back to earn his diploma in Elmont Oct. 26. Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism while receiving Lasix for this first time here, Mihos tracked from a two-wide fourth through an opening quarter in :22.59. Progressing up the outside, the $320,000 KEESEP buy stalled a bit on the backstretch, but ranged up five wide to tackle the leaders turning for home. Once pilot Rajiv Maragh got the bay to switch leads in the stretch, it was all over as Mihos stormed clear and was under wraps by the time he hit the wire in 1:11.20. Shadwell homebred Mutakaamil (Tapit) hopped at the start, spotting the field several lengths early, but rallied to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths.
The winner's unraced dam Feline Flatline, a half-sister to GI Del Mar Oaks victress Sharle Rae (Afleet Alex), produced a Summer Front filly in 2017 and a Speightster colt in 2018. She was bred back to American Freedom.
3rd-Aqueduct, $70,000, Msw, 11-24, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.20, ft.
MIHOS, c, 2, Cairo Prince&log=">Cairo Prince
1st Dam: Feline Flatline, by Lion Heart
2nd Dam: Jinny's Gold, by Gold Fever
3rd Dam: Nijinsky Dancer, by Upper Nile
Sales history: $320,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $47,500. O-Centennial Farms; B-Wayne, Gray & Bryan Lyster (KY); T-James A. Jerkens. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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