Prince Earl Upsets Del Mar Mile for First Stakes Win
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Prince Earl rallies to an upset victory in the Del Mar Mile at Del Mar
Old Bones Racing Stable and Todd Marshall's Prince Earl found a seam in a wall of horses to upset the $201,755 Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T) Aug. 18. The score was his first stakes victory off almost a nine-month layoff and came against older horses.
The 4-year-old Paddy O'Prado gelding last raced Dec. 1 on the same turf course at Del Mar, placing fourth behind Raging Bull, River Boyne, and Instilled Regard in the Hollywood Derby (G1T).
"I thought a lot of him as a 3-year-old," trainer Phil D'Amato said. "He had some unlucky trips in some pretty strong races his last two as a 3-year-old. We gave him plenty of time off, did a minor throat procedure on him, and he's come back with a vengeance as a 4-year-old. We decided to take a big shot here and got a great ride by Geovanni Franco."
In Sunday's two-turn mile, Prince Earl raced comfortably from the rail in midpack as What A View took the 10-horse field through a quarter-mile in :23.20 and :46.46 for a half-mile with Bolo and Ohio following a short distance behind. As the leaders began to shuffle on the final turn, Sharp Samurai made a sweeping move into third on the outside, and others began to move up on the leader.
Into the stretch, Franco took his time aboard Prince Earl, who maintained his position along the rail behind traffic, but the pair improved their position coming off the turn. It looked as though Bowies Hero, Sharp Samurai, and Grecian Fire were going to rally to the lead, but Prince Earl found the right spot and ran right through an opening to score a three-quarter-length win at the wire.
"Phil said, 'He's going to run big. Just be patient,'" Franco said. "I had the good post (on the rail) to save ground on the grass, and it worked out just that way. He was very responsive to me all the way around. When I asked him, he had a nice kick. It was a lovely ride."
The final time on the firm turf was 1:33.13. Sharp Samurai managed to stay in front of Grecian Fire by a nose for second, Ohio was fourth, and 7-5 favorite Bowies Hero followed.
At 9-1 odds, Prince Earl returned $21.60, $11, and $7.60.
Prince Earl began his racing career with a 3 1/2-length score at Santa Anita Park in May 2018. In September, he added a half-length win in an allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar going a mile. Both races were on firm turf. He then finished fourth in the Let It Ride Stakes one month before the Hollywood Derby.
Bred by Madeline Auerbach and Harris Farms in California, Prince Earl is out of the Unusual Heat mare Soo Steamy.