Flying Mohawk – Kentucky Derby Context

Runner-up in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Flying Mohawk will test his mettle on dirt in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He raced exclusively on turf last year, breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs the fourth time out in his juvenile finale, and the dark bay colt opened 2025 with a convincing turf allowance win at Fair Grounds. A confirmed closer, Flying Mohawk switched to Turfway Park’s Tapeta to earn a spot in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby field, and the last three runnings of the Jeff Ruby have produced 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, 2023 Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s, and 2024 Preakness (G1) winner Seize the Grey. Flying Mohawk will try to emulate Animal Kingdom, who captured the 2011 Kentucky Derby in his first dirt start.

OWNER: Flying Mohawk is campaigned by the partnership of Two Eight Racing (Jason Werth), Berry Family Racing, and Kaleta Racing. Werth, an All-Star and World Series champion during his 15-year MLB career, co-owned Dornoch, who won the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) after finishing 10th in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

TRAINER: A Louisville native, Whit Beckman worked as an assistant for Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher before opening his own stable in late 2021, and the up-and-coming horseman will have a second consecutive Kentucky Derby starter in 2025. Honor Marie, who provided Beckman with his first graded stakes win, finished eighth last year. Beckman will also send out his first Kentucky Oaks starters this year, Simply Joking and Drexel Hill.

JOCKEY: Based at Turfway Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis since 2021, Joe Ramos will make his first Kentucky Derby start aboard Flying Mohawk. The Puerto Rican native won back-to-back riding titles at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2022-23. 

BREEDER: Bred in Kentucky, Flying Mohawk will provide John O’Meara with a second Kentucky Derby starter as a breeder. O’Meara bred in partnership Going Wild, who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby, and he initially sold Flying Mohawk for $25,000 as a weanling. The colt was pinhooked for $72,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September sale.

SIRE: Racing exclusively on turf, Japanese-bred Karakontie recorded a pair of Group 1 wins in France and upset the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at 30-1. And at stud, he’s better known as a turf sire, producing Grade 1 winners She Feels Pretty and Spendarella, but his son Sole Volante was on the Kentucky Derby trail after winning the 2020 Sam F. Davis (G3), eventually finishing 11th under the Twin Spires.

DAM: Flying Mohawk has turf influences on both sides of his pedigree. He’s the first foal to race out of the Twirling Candy mare Bonbons Fleur, a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 turf winner Change of Control. By Candy Ride, Twirling Candy has proved to be a versatile sire, producing multiple Grade 1 winners on dirt and turf, including 2021 Preakness (G1) winner Rombauer. The relatively young broodmare sire is still looking to make an impact on the Triple Crown.

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