Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Mandaloun

Feb 18, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Mandaloun earned 50 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 1 1/4-length triumph in the $400,000 Risen Star S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on February 13. The sophomore negotiated 1 1/8 miles on the fast main surface in 1:50.39 under the guidance of regular pilot Florent Geroux.

Mandaloun has been favored in each of his four career assignments while winning three of them. His lifetime line now reads 4-3-0-1, $351,252. The bay colt was unveiled on October 24 in a six-furlong maiden special weight dash at Keeneland. The 11-10 post-time choice was unhurried in the early stages, but picked up momentum in the stretch, eventually striding home a half-length victor over a ‘good’ main surface.

Stretching out to seven-eighths whole facing allowance foes in his second assignment at Churchill Downs, the colt inched clear late en route to victory as an 11-10 favorite once again. The son of Into Mischief preceded his Risen Star tally with a third-place finish in the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on January 16 when making his three-year-old debut for trainer Brad Cox. 

“I'm very proud of the colt. He stepped up and ran a big race today. He's got the physical make-up of a mile-and-a-quarter horse so we're optimistic he'll get better with more ground,' his conditioner stated.

Mandaloun is the first black-type winner produced from the Empire Maker mare Brooch, a two-time Group stakes heroine who captured the 2015 Ridgewood Pearl S. (G2) for conditioner Dermot Weld. This is the same family as champion mare Emulous, as well as Grade 1 winner and sire Cormorant.

The ever-improving prospect has increased his Brisnet Speed figure in each lifetime start to date (84-92-94-100), while running longer on each occasion. The striking sophomore has brilliance on the paternal side of his pedigree being by the leading current sire in the U. S., and his female line is flooded with numerous stamina influences. He combines excellent positional speed with a sharp turn of foot, and with continued improvement throughout the season, he will surely be a marquee name on the Triple Crown Trail.

Mandaloun could target the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 20 in his next engagement.