My Boy Prince rallies to take Plate Trial

TORONTO, July 20, 2024— In the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, My Boy Prince, the 1-5 choice, reared at start but recovered impressively to win his third straight start, Saturday at Woodbine. 

Under Sahin Civaci, the son of Cairo Prince-Hopping Not Hoping broke awkwardly before settling into stride soon after, as longshot Friendly Ghost went to the front in the 1 1/8-mile main track race for 3-year-olds foaled in Canada.

Friendly Ghost held a half-length advantage over No More Options, last year’s Frost King Stakes winner, through a tepid opening quarter of :25.11, while Civaci guided My Boy Prince into fifth in the seven-horse field.

It was Friendly Ghost still in charge by a head after a half in :49.51, but Piper’s Factor had begun to ratchet up the pressure as Civaci rallied My Boy Prince into the contention heading into the final turn.

Striking front just past the mid-way point down the lane, My Boy Prince was able to keep 26-1 outsider Rafaroo at bay by 1 ¼ lengths to secure the victory in 1:51.12. Friendly Ghost was third and Piper’s Factor finished fourth.

“Today, he broke he little badly, but he pulled through,” said Civaci, of the roan trained by dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse for owner Gary Barber. “It is a little worrisome if they get away from you, but the pace was going a little easy and he has tactical speed.

“I didn’t mind him sitting off the pace today because The King’s Plate (August 17) is going to be a lot of horses, and anything can happen. Sometimes, you can’t be on the lead, so I wanted to see him relax a bit.”

My Boy Prince arrived at the Plate Trial off wins in the King Corrie Stakes on May 19 and most recently, the Queenston Stakes, on June 9.

Bred in Ontario by Murray Graham Smith, the colt is now 6-2-1 from 10 career starts.

My Boy Prince, the $115,000 sale-topper at the 2022 CTHS Ontario Canadian premier yearling sale, paid $2.50 for the Plate Trial win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine