Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling graduate MY BOY PRINCE continues to achieve, and on April 4 won the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland turf. The Ontario-bred by Cairo Prince – Hopping not Hoping by Silent Name (Jpn) became the eighth graded stakes winner for owner GARY BARBER at Keeneland, earning Barber the Milestone Tray.
My Boy Prince was Canada’s Champion Two-year-old Male in 2023 and was on the Queen’s Plate trail the following year. He ran a brave race in the 1 1/4 mile Plate, leading until very late before the filly Caitlinhergrtness ran him down. Last year, trainer Mark Casse started the grey gelding in short turf races and he won the Elusive Quality Stakes at Aqueduct in May. The gelding finished second in a couple of graded sprint stakes and second in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile before he was eased in the Canadian Interntional at 1 1/2 miles.
This season looks like it could be My Boy Prince’s best as he was coming off a 99 Beyer Speed Figure win in the Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs.
In the Shakertown, My Boy Prince had a super journey under jockey Jose Ortiz, stalking the speed from the inside before he moved out for his winning rally. He ran the distance in 1:02.11 for a career-best 100 Beyer Figure.
“He’s amazing,” said Casse. “And I want to say a special thanks — anybody who knows my career knows (owner) Gary Barber’s been a big part of it, and for him to win the (Milestone Tray) here at Keeneland (for his eighth graded stakes victory) means a lot. So it’s a special day because My Boy Prince is a special horse and Gary Barber is definitely a special person to my family.”
On moving My Boy Prince to turf sprinting, Casse said, “Last year we started him at turf sprints in New York and he ran pretty good (winning the listed Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont at the Big A May 3 and finishing second in the Jaipur-G1 at Saratoga June 8.) We tried different things with him, but this year I gave him a break, brought him back, and that’s what was presented to us. We tried it at Gulfstream (finishing third in the listed Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes Jan. 24), then we took him to Tampa (where he won the Turf Dash Feb. 14), and I always felt this course would really suit him.”
My Boy Prince topped the CTHS sale four years ago at $115,000, sold by Gail Wood as agent for Murray Smith, who raced Hopping Not Hoping. The mare’s next foal, Athlete, by Kitten’s Joy, brought $585,000 as a yearling but never raced and is a riding horse. The mare, who won the Shady Well Stakes as a two-year-old, has a two-year-old named Swift Rules, by Classic Empire, and a yearling by Constitution. She is booked to Weyburn this spring.
My Boy Prince has nine wins in 23 races and earnings of $1,454,540 and he is up for Sovereign Awards for Champion Turf Male and Champion Sprinter for 2025.
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