Gary Barber’s dual Grade 1-placed Canadian Champion My Boy Prince successfully cut back in distance to win his seasonal debut in Saturday’s listed $150,000 Elusive Quality, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the four-year-old Cairo Prince grey was making his seasonal debut and first start as a gelding having last ran fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf in November at Churchill Downs. That defeat marked his third consecutive off-the-board finish, all in races one-mile or farther.
Piloted by Jose Lezcano, My Boy Prince broke sharply from the outermost post 10 to press graded stakes-placed Nothing Better, who led through an opening quarter-mile in 21.79 seconds on the firm turf. He covered a half-mile in 44.36, put his head in front in the turn as Nothing Better tried to battle back along the rail, and held the lead with one furlong to run, but nearly the whole field was lined up and in with a chance. My Boy Prince kicked powerfully as Bold Journey emerged as the biggest threat down the center of the course under Eric Cancel. However, My Boy Prince had plenty left as he went on to a one-length score in a final time of 1:07.53.
He earned a 95 Beyer Figure.
“That was impressive,” said Casse from Churchill Downs, where he was sending out Sandman in the Kentucky Derby.
My Boy Prince hit the board in a pair of one-mile Grade 1s as a juvenile, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park and the Summer at Woodbine Racetrack en route to Sovereign Award honours as Canada’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. He went on to win three of eight starts last year, taking the King Corrie and restricted Queenston and Plate Trial over the Woodbine Tapeta.
He led late in the King’s Plate at 10 furlongs before being edged by Caitlinhergrtness.
Shane Tripp, assistant to Casse, said My Boy Prince’s bullet half-mile from the gate in 46.61 seconds on Sunday over the Belmont Park dirt training track indicated he was ready for action.
“He’s a lovely horse. He worked really, really fast the other day away from the gate,” said Tripp. “Probably a little quicker than I wanted to – but I figured he would give a good effort because every time you lead him over there, he usually gives you [one].”
“He switched to his left lead and I’m sure he was getting a little tired his first race of the year, but Mark does a good job,” said Tripp. “He gelded him and he’s going to have an exciting year this year.”
Lezcano, aboard in the afternoon for the first time, said My Boy Prince made his job easy.
“Right from the break, all I did was keep him together. I never moved a hand – he did everything himself,” said Lezcano.
My Boy Prince was bred by Murray Smith, who raced Hopping Not Hoping, a stakes winner at two at Woodbine. My Boy Prince was the CTHS Ontario’s sales topper three years ago at $115,000.
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