Prince Abama takes Hollywood Turf Cup under crafty ride from Prat

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Prince Abama passed a stamina test when he started at 1 1/2 miles for the first time in Friday’s Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar.

Prince Abama was always near the front, and took the lead for good with more than five furlongs remaining. At that point of the race, jockey Flavien Prat urged Prince Abama to the lead to avoid a potential duel.

“I was between two horses and we were going to get in a head-and-head battle,” Prat said. “I felt like I could make a move.”

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Prince Abama ($7.60) led by a half-length on the backstretch and pulled clear in early stretch to take enough of a lead to hold off a late threat from 4-1 The Grey Wizard.

“He was very game,” Prat said. “He gave me a good kick when I turned for home.”

Prince Abama was timed in 2:29.42, winning by three-quarters of a length for his first stakes win. Prince Abama earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

The Grey Wizard broke slowly and closed from last in the final mile to finish second, a head in front of 7-1 Avenue.

“He wound up running a good race after not breaking,” jockey John Velazquez said of The Grey Wizard.

Dicey Mo Chara, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth, never posing a threat from the back of the field. Cash Equity, Dean Martini, and Go On completed the order of finish.

Prince Abama, a 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Tamayuz, races for Michael House and trainer Phil D’Amato.

A winner of 3 of 10 starts and $327,553, Prince Abama arrived in the United States from Ireland in the summer of 2021.

The $250,500 Hollywood Turf Cup was Prince Abama’s third consecutive stakes appearance. He was third in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 and second in the restricted Lure Stakes at a mile on turf on Oct. 29.

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