Prime Engine hits the major leagues

DEL MAR, Calif. – After romping to a pair of victories in Washington, Prime Engine has hit the road to Southern California, where on Saturday at Del Mar he will seek to remain unbeaten in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-olds.

The Bob Hope, at seven furlongs, was known as the Hollywood Prevue at the now-defunct Hollywood Park. It was used as a prep to the Hollywood Futurity, which is now run at Los Alamitos and has been renamed the Los Alamitos Futurity.

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The Bob Hope is a fallback race for Prime Engine. His trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer – who won the Prevue and Futurity last year with Shared Belief – wants to run Prime Engine in the Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs on Nov. 22, but he is concerned that he won’t get into the race. Thirteen were pre-entered into the Jackpot, and only 10 can run.

“If we can get in, it’s $1 million, rather than $100,000, but if we’re not likely to get in, this is where we’ll run,” Hollendorfer said Thursday.

Prime Engine is owned by Mark Dedomenico, whose Pegasus Training and Equine Rehabilitation Center in Washington is often used by Hollendorfer to prep and rehab his horses. It is also where jockey Gary Stevens went to get fit before his comeback nearly two years ago.

Under the care of Pegasus trainer Mike Puhich, Prime Engine romped by 10 1/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Emerald Downs on Sept. 13, then came back 15 days later, stretched out to 1 1/16 miles, and cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory in the Gottstein Futurity there.

Prime Engine was then sent to Hollendorfer, for whom he has worked four times at Santa Anita.

“He’s been training excellent since he came down,” Hollendorfer said.

Prime Engine drew post 4 in a field of nine and picks up jockey Mike Smith.

KEY CONTENDERS

Prime Engine (Beyers: 83-67)

◗ After going two turns in the Gottstein Futurity, he now has to turn back to seven furlongs, but that is often a winning move on Del Mar’s Polytrack surface.

◗ Hollendorfer said he is moving Prime Engine back to seven furlongs because there is no other option if he can’t get into the Delta Jackpot. “It’s the availability of races,” he said.

Alright Alright (Beyer: 87)

◗ Though he got little action in his debut last month at Santa Anita, he won like a promising colt, earning the fastest Beyer Speed Figure in the field.

◗ Like Prime Engine, he has not raced on a synthetic surface.

Diamond Majesty (Beyers: 77-66)

◗ He added Lasix when returning from a 4 1/2-month layoff and beat maidens on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. Horses who run well on that course often do well sprinting on Polytrack at Del Mar.

Story to Tell (Last 3 Beyers: 70-37-72)

◗ He is trying to get back to the form that carried him to two wins in his first three starts.

◗ He disappointed in his lone start here during the summer but needed time off after that race, so it may not be a true indication of his aptitude on Polytrack.