Prince Abama rallied five-deep through the lane to best stablemate Masteroffoxhounds by a neck in the San Marcos (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Although his stablemate Masteroffoxhounds appeared to have Sunday’s Grade III, $200,000 San Marcos Stakes wrapped up, Irish-bred Prince Abama burst upon the scene in the shadow of the wire to prevail by a neck as Flavien Prat hoped to serve notice that his horrendous personal slump this winter at Santa Anita is turf history. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Prince Abama, a 5-year-old gelding, got a mile and one quarter on turf in 2:01.42.
Mid-pack while under restraint and about three lengths off pacesetter Evan Harlan three furlongs from home, Prince Abama rallied five-deep through the lane and was up just in time as Prat notched his second added money win and his eighth overall victory of the 18-day meet, with his first stakes win coming in Saturday’s 10th and final race, the Grade III Thunder Road Stakes.
“It is always great to get some winners,” said Prat. “I can’t thank Phil enough for his support. He has been a great supporter of mine and I really appreciate it. I had a good trip, turning for home I had all my chances. I thought Masteroffoxhounds was going to be opening up and I was not going to be able to catch him, but my horse was really brave and (he) laid it down and did the job.”
Most recently fourth in the opening day Grade II San Gabriel Stakes at a mile and one-eighth on turf Dec. 26, Prince Abama was off at 5-1 in a field of 10 older horses and paid $12.60, $6.00 and $4.20.
Owned by Michael House, Prince Abama registered his second graded stakes win and with the winner’s share of $120,000, increased his earnings to $459,553 while improving his overall race record to 12-4-4-1.
Masteroffoxhounds, who tracked the leader in second position to the quarter pole, took charge straightening for home, opened up a two-length advantage with a sixteenth of a mile to run and just missed in a huge effort.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Masteroffoxhounds was the 3-1 favorite and returned $4.40 and $3.60 while finishing a half-length in front of Opry.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Opry was off at 12-1 and paid $6.00 show and finished a neck better than D’Amato’s Say the Word. D’Amato’s fourth runner, French-bred Equity, checked in last.
Fractions on the race were 23.62, 48.49, 1:14.00 and 1:37.61.
Grade III, $100,000, San Marcos Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Flavien Prat, Prince Abama, Winner: “It is always great to get some winners. I can’t thank Phil enough for his support. He has been a great supporter of mine and I really appreciate it.
“I had a good trip, turning for home I had all my chances. I thought Masteroffoxhounds was going to be opening up and I was not going to be able to catch him, but my horse was really brave, laid it down and did the job.”
Trainer Quotes
Phil D’amato, Prince Abama, Winner: “He’s a very consistent horse, he fires. Last time he kind of got stuck on the inside and Flavien jumped off of him and said, ‘I didn’t give him my ideal trip.’ This time he made it a point to get him in the clear. I thought Masteroffoxhounds was home free, but Flavien laid it down and Prince Abama got the job done.
“He was slowly making up ground late, but Masteroffoxhounds was in full flight, I thought it was going to be really close and he just got the job done late.”
