Celestial City finds first stakes triumph in Hill Prince
Celestial City became a stakes winner Saturday when he put in a determined run to capture the Grade 2, $300,000 Hill Prince by 2 1/4 lengths over Mackinnon at Belmont at the Big A.
It was another head back in third to Grand Sonata.
The Hill Prince was a 1 1/8 miles turf race for 3-year-olds.
Celestial City ($9.60) had some close calls in stakes leading up to the Hill Prince, running second or third in three such races. He stumbled at the start Saturday and had one horse beat early as Nantasket Beach set fractions of 24.23 for the opening quarter, 49.83 for the half-mile and 1:15.26 for six furlongs - with Mackinnon in close pursuit.
Celestial City advanced down the backside, launched a determined run on the turn, angled off the rail in the stretch and moved past the leaders. He covered the distance on firm ground in 1:50.27.
Jose Lezcano was aboard for trainer Shug McGaughey.
“He didn’t break the way I wanted,” Lezcano told the New York Racing Association, “but at least it worked out in our favor. After that, I had to go with the second plan and let him make one run. When I started asking him, he gave me everything he has. He’s improving mentally more than anything”.
Celestial City is a son of Uncle Mo who races for his breeder, Stuart Janney 3d. He has now won 3 of 9 starts and has earned $347,920.
Celestial City had some close finishes in stakes ahead of the Hill Prince. He was second in the Jersey Derby in May at Monmouth Park and later ran third in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August at Saratoga and also was second in that track’s Grade 3 Saranac in September.
“This horse’s races have been good,” McGaughey told NYRA. “He’s run against some pretty tough competition. I think he’s learning now and I think we’ve learned a little something today with him not breaking well. He got farther back than I thought he would, but he made a pretty explosive run so maybe that’s what he wants to do.”
McGaughey said Celestial City will be considered for the Grade 1, $400,000 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 3 at Del Mar.
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