Hong Kong Harry steps up with Seabiscuit triumph

DEL MAR, Calif. - Hong Kong Harry won his third stakes of the year in Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in a manner that suggested to trainer Phil D’Amato that national goals are likely for 2023.

“I think he’s as good of a miler as there is on the West Coast,” D’Amato said as he left the winners’ circle.

Fortunately for D’Amato, and the partnership that owns Hong Kong Harry, the Breeders’ Cup Mile will be run next November at Santa Anita.

Whether Hong Kong Harry deserves a spot in that prestigious field will not be known until well into 2023. His performance on Saturday certainly suggests such a race is a possibility.

Hong Kong Harry won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Sept. 3 and was held from consideration for the BC Mile at Keeneland earlier this month in favor of the $251,500 Seabiscuit Handicap.

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The decision paid off, but only after a timely ride from jockey Flavien Prat.

Hong Kong Harry ($5.20) closed from fifth in a field of eight in the final half-mile to win by a neck over 8-1 Beyond Brilliant, who finished a head in front of pacesetter Masteroffoxhounds.

Hong Kong Harry ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.79, slightly slower than the track record of 1:39.50 set by Fly to Mars in 2018. Hong Kong Harry earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

A 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, Hong Kong Harry needed the entire stretch to reach the front. Hong Kong Harry was fourth entering the stretch.

“Turning for home, I thought I would win,” Prat said. “I got to the eighth pole and they weren’t slowing down. He really gave me another gear.”

Masteroffoxhounds (19-1) set an early pace of 23.32 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.31 for a half-mile, leading by as much as a length over 4-1 Smooth Like Strait.

Hong Kong Harry trailed by more than seven lengths on the backstretch.

“I felt like the pace was hot,” Prat said. “I didn’t want to force him to keep up.”

Masteroffoxhounds, the winner of the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita last month for D’Amato, pulled clear in early stretch to lead by 2 1/2 lengths.

Masteroffoxhounds was unable to sustain the advantage in the final strides when Beyond Brilliant and Hong Kong Harry moved closer as Smooth Like Strait faded from contention.

Beyond Brilliant fought for the lead in the last sixteenth after showing a more patient style than he had for much of his career. Beyond Brilliant was fourth for much of the Seabiscuit Handicap.

Beyond Brilliant led throughout the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. The Seabiscuit Handicap was Beyond Brilliant’s first start following an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

“It’s unbelievable the way the horse has changed,” jockey Victor Espinoza said. “I think he’s getting smarter to not use his energy early.”

Santin, the winner of the Arlington Million at Churchill Downs in August, finished fourth, followed by Irideo, Set Piece, Smooth Like Strait and Kentucky Ghost.

Hong Kong Harry, who is by the Clodivil stallion Es Que Love, has won 9 of 13 starts and earned $565,097. He began his career in Britain, where he won 4 of 7 starts, but did not appear in a stakes.

Now owned by Scott Anastaki, Jimmy Ukegawa, and Tony Valazza, Hong Kong Harry’s only loss in six starts in the United States has been a second in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in July. Hong Kong Harry won his first start in a stakes in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita in June.

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