Aqueduct: Cairo Prince draws away in Nashua

Cairo Prince, one of seven last-out maiden winners in a crowded field, overcame post 12 en route to a decisive victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct.

Fresh off a debut win at six furlongs four weeks ago for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Cairo Prince broke alertly from the far outside and raced forwardly through the opening stages beneath Luis Saez, as favored Manhattan Johnnie battled with Awesome Wildcat and Tiznowforameric through sharp fractions of 23.16 and 46.90 seconds.

Cairo Prince reached even terms with Manhattan Johnnie with five-sixteenths of a mile remaining. He quickly spurted away turning for home and built a five-length lead in midstretch, and remained clear by at the finish by 2 1/2 lengths.

“He keeps improving,” said Saez after booting home his third winner of the afternoon. “Today, he was impressive. On the turn, he wanted to run, so I let him, and he was flying. I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch and he just kept going.”

The slight second choice in the wagering, Cairo Prince ($10.60) ran one mile in 1:37.59, more than a full second faster than the Tempted for fillies earlier on the card.

Cairo Prince was the third Nashua winner in the past seven years for McLaughlin, who also won it with Day Pass in 2006 and Etched in 2007.

“There was a strong headwind down the backside,” noted assistant trainer Art Magnuson. “We thought he’d be pretty close, but you worry at the five-sixteenths pole about how much he has left after he’s made a run into that wind. Of course, you’re also excited about the Remsen and Florida and next year in May.”

Financial Mogul rallied wide into the stretch and edged Noble Moon for second by a half-length.

“He’s a nice horse who wants to go long and get the two turns,” said Rick Violette Jr., who trains Financial Mogul. “We’ll talk about the Remsen. That’s going to come up a monster race, but we’ll think about it.”