Freshman sire Cairo Prince has first winner

The well-regarded freshman sire Cairo Prince was represented by his first winner Saturday at Belmont when his daughter Abyssinian wired the field for a seven-length maiden score.

This was the second start for Abyssinian, who finished the five furlongs in a solid 59.44 seconds on a sloppy, sealed track and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 71, the fourth-best by a juvenile in 2018. The filly finished second in her debut at Belmont on May 3.

Cairo Prince, a graded stakes winner at both 2 and 3, was the first son of classic sire Pioneerof the Nile to enter stud, and has been a commercial standout in a well-received class of freshman sires. His 86 yearlings sold last year averaged $138,297.

Cairo Prince had “an outstanding group of yearlings, and the marketplace reflected it,” juvenile consignor Ciaran Dunne said. “It wasn’t just a handful, it seems. From July to October, every time you turned around there was another good one by the horse. From what we’ve seen here at the farm, the physical prowess has translated into athletic prowess. They’re beautiful-moving horses and they’re very willing. They’re just nice horses.”

Abyssinian was consigned by breeder Dede McGehee’s Heaven Trees at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale, and sold for $70,000. She now races for Hat Creek Racing and trainer Wesley Ward.