The New York Racing Association did not create its trio of rich 3-year-old turf races for Flying Mohawk.
But the series does come in quite handy for runners like the son of Karakontie .
After a rather forgettable debut on dirt when he finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Flying Mohawk will return to the much friendlier confines of a grass course July 4 in the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.
"He was trending very well on turf prior to our little Derby Dream break," said trainer Whit Beckman. "But now we are back on the surface he definitely prefers and was looking really good on."
Owned by the Two Eight Racing stable of former Major League Baseball star Jayson Werth, Berry Family Racing, and Kalita Racing, Flying Mohawk closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a maiden win on turf and then started 2025 with a victory in a grassy allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Next Whitman entered Flying Mohawk in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the all-weather course at Turfway Park, where he finished a close second.
That gave him 50 qualifying points and secured a spot in what would be a 19-horse field in the Run for the Roses.
"We took our shot," Beckman said. "Maybe 20 years from now, I'm not doing it. But just a couple of years into my career, I am not going to pass up a chance to run in the Kentucky Derby. We bypassed running for $1 million on that same card in the American Turf (G1T), but we knew there would be other opportunities."
Though Flying Mohawk was jostled at the start of the Kentucky Derby and wound up 42 1/4 lengths behind, Whitman said the colt has shown no ill effects from running in the opening leg of the American Triple Crown and is training nicely for the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Derby.
"He didn't put in much of an effort in the Derby, so we have a pretty fresh and happy horse," Beckman said. "He's been training really well and I don't think the mile and an eighth will be an issue. It's a great spot to get him back on turf and if we can get him a grade 1 win, it would be fantastic."
Bred by John O'Meara in Kentucky out of the Twirling Candy mare Bonbons Fleur, Flying Mohawk has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $295,800. He was purchased for $72,000 from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The field of eight also features Amerman Racing's Test Score, a son of Lookin At Lucky who was second in the American Turf for trainer Graham Motion, and Qatar Racing's New Century, a Kameko colt who rallied from 11th to finish third in that same 1 1/16-mile stakes for trainer Brendan Walsh.
Juddmonte's Final Gambit, who won the Jeff Ruby and was fourth in the Kentucky Derby, returns to turf for the first time since he finished third in his career debut, The son of Not This Time trained by Brad Cox was fourth in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) last time out.
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, July 4, 2025, Race 9
Entries: Belmont Derby Invitational S. (G1T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Tank (FL) Luis Saez 122 Carlos A. David - 2 Early Adopter (GB) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Chad C. Brown - 3 Luther (GB) Kieran Shoemark 122 Charlie Fellowes - 4 New Century (GB) Oisin Murphy 122 Brendan P. Walsh - 5 Test Score (KY) Manuel Franco 122 H. Graham Motion - 6 Final Gambit (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Brad H. Cox - 7 World Beater (KY) Jaime A. Torres 122 Riley Mott - 8 Flying Mohawk (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 122 D. Whitworth Beckman -
