Hong Kong Harry figures tough in Seabiscuit Handicap repeat bid

DEL MAR, Calif. – There are plenty of stakes races for turf horses who are just short of Breeders’ Cup-caliber, and plenty of California horses who fit the description.

The Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap is one of those races, and Hong Kong Harry is one of those horses.

Saturday at Del Mar, Hong Kong Harry will try to win the Seabiscuit a second straight year after skipping the BC Mile. Passing the BC was an easy decision, despite Hong Kong Harry’s status as one of the state’s top turf milers.

“He’s not Breeders’ Cup-nominated, and it’s a big chunk of change to run against super-good” rivals, trainer Phil D’Amato said referring to the $200,000 supplement required to make Hong Kong Harry Breeders’ Cup-eligible. “For how much you have to put up, and the competition you have to run against, the dollars and cents don’t make sense.”

What does make sense is the $200,000 Seabiscuit at 1 1/16 miles. Hong Kong Harry is the 125-pound highweight and likely favorite over a field that includes three trained by D’Amato – Hong Kong Harry, stakes winner Easter, and multiple Grade 3 winner Balnikhov.

Astronomer, runner-up by a head to Hong Kong Harry before finishing next-to-last in the BC Mile, ranks among the Seabiscuit contenders. Sumter is likely to set the pace; others include Yes This Time, Cabo Spirit, and Front Run the Fed.

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D’Amato has won the Seabiscuit four of the last eight years, including 2022 when Hong Kong Harry won by a neck under 124 pounds. He ran well but missed in three subsequent Grade 1s, then scored his 10th career victory this September in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita. Juan Hernandez rides him back.

“We’ve been pointing to [the Seabiscuit] ever since the last race,” D’Amato said. “He’s the kind of horse, in California, he can be a force to be reckoned with throughout the year.”

He already is, having won four graded stakes the past year and a half.

Hong Kong Harry, purchased at a European auction for $122,768 in 2021 after he won 4 of 7 starts overseas, has won six races and $734,600 from 10 U.S. starts for owners Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa, and Tony Valazza. Overall, Hong Kong Harry has won 10 of 17 and earned $775,097.

Hong Kong Harry’s main Seabiscuit rival might be new stablemate Easter, transferred to D’Amato after winning a restricted turf stakes last month at Santa Anita for Graham Motion.

Easter is quirky. He propped and refused to work on the Del Mar turf on Nov. 12, but two days later worked five furlongs on dirt and “galloped out like a wild horse,” according to D’Amato.

“Who knows how good he could be?” D’Amato said. “He’s a big, giant, good-looking, gorgeous horse and has every right to stay on the improve.”

Easter, 5 for 17, ran faster each successive quarter-mile winning the one-mile Lure Stakes last out. He finished in 22.36 seconds. Antonio Fresu will ride Easter.

D’Amato’s third Seabiscuit entrant appears in tough, but a win by Balnikhov would not be a total shock.

“He runs very well fresh, and some of his best races have been on the Del Mar turf course,” D’Amato said.

Balnikhov earned the highest figure of his career this summer finishing second in the Grade 2 Eddie Read. Hector Berrios rides Balnikhov.

Astronomer, a runner-up to Hong Kong Harry two starts back in the City of Hope Mile, takes a major class drop following a 12th-place finish in the BC Mile. Simon Callaghan trains the gelding, who has a Breeders’ Cup-Seabiscuit handicapping angle in his favor.

Since the first Seabiscuit at Del Mar in 2014, the race has attracted 12 starters dropping from Breeders’ Cup races. Four won the Seabiscuit, none were favored (Kaigun, 2014; Ring Weekend, 2016; Hunt, 2017; Next Shares, 2019.)

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Astronomer scratched from the Oct. 28 Lure to take a shot in the BC Mile. He pressed the fast pace and tired as a 53-1 outsider. Callaghan acknowledged the BC Mile was a reach, and at the time mentioned the Seabiscuit a late-season goal.

Umberto Rispoli rides Astronomer, a 3-for-8 gelding with a history of outrunning his odds. He paid $62.60 winning a Del Mar turf stakes at age 2, and this summer paid $45 winning a turf allowance.

Astronomer could get a cozy trip positioned behind likely pacesetter Sumter, who will try to become the first horse to win the Seabiscuit gate to wire. The race is being run at Del Mar for the 10th time Saturday.

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