Hong Kong Harry, Prat together again, take Del Mar Mile

Hong Kong Harry won his American debut at Santa Anita on March 6, the weekend jockey Flavien Prat said he was on the verge of a move to the East Coast.

On Saturday, Prat, who is currently based at Saratoga, was back at Del Mar for the first time this summer to ride a stakes-packed card. Prat was reunited with Hong Kong Harry for the first time since March and guided the 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding to his first win in a Grade 2 stakes in the $302,000 Del Mar Mile on turf.

Sent off favored, Hong Kong Harry ($4.40) closed from sixth in a field of nine with an impressive rally in the final quarter-mile.

The race had its share of tactical drama. Goliad, the winner of an allowance race at a mile on July 30, was part of a fast pace of 22.44 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45 for a half-mile, leading by as many as four lengths. In early stretch, the quick tempo took its toll when Goliad began to fade.

Hong Kong Harry and 9-1 Irideo closed well in tandem to briefly tussle for the lead before Hong Kong Harry pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

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Goliad’s significant lead was a brief concern for Prat.

“When we hit the turn, you expect them to come back,” he said. “I was a bit worried, but it worked out well.”

Hong Kong Harry ran a mile on turf in 1:33.15 for his second stakes win in the United States. He was given a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

Irideo, the winner of the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf at 31-1 on July 24, finished second, followed by Cathkin Peak, Air Force Red, Tarantino, None Above the Law, Goliad, Astronaut and Figureti.

Irideo was a Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2000 and had his graded stakes debut in the United States in the Del Mar Mile for trainer Marcelo Polanco.

Hong Kong Harry won his stakes debut in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on June 19 and was a troubled second in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Hong Kong Harry races for the partnership of Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa and Tony Valazza. Hong Kong Harry has won 8 of 12 starts and earned $415,097 in his career. He raced in England last year, winning two minor races.

Since arriving in California last winter, Hong Kong Harry has won 4 of 5 starts.