Prince Earl looks ready to fire fresh in Crystal Water Stakes

Prince Earl will start for the first time since November in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. Considering how he ran the last time he came off a long layoff, the time between starts may work in his favor.

Last August, Prince Earl began his brief 2019 campaign with a remarkable win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, his first start in nearly nine months. Prince Earl overcame trouble in early stretch and closed from sixth to win by three-quarters of a length.

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The Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23 is the “ultimate” goal this summer for Prince Earl, who is ready for a comeback, according to trainer Phil D’Amato.

“He was probably ready in late March or April if it wasn’t for the stoppage,” D’Amato said, referring to the cessation of racing at Santa Anita for nearly two months from late March to mid-May because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Prince Earl, who races for Old Bones Racing Stable and Todd Marshall, was fifth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar last November in his third and final start of 2019.

“He was tailing off a bit,” D’Amato said. “I thought it was time to give him a freshening. He reminds me of Obviously. They are good for four or five top-notch races and they need a break.”

Obviously, trained by D’Amato, won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in a four-race campaign in 2014 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in a five-race campaign in 2016.

Prince Earl is part of a field of eight in the Crystal Water that includes five stakes winners.

Ward ’n Jerry, who won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf, is starting at a distance shorter than his best trip. Lieutenant Dan, winner of the Sensational Star Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf March 22, has yet to win at a mile, but has placed in stakes at the distance.

D’Amato also starts King Abner, who was fourth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on the main track in February. Saturday’s race is designed to have King Abner ready for the $100,000 Soi Phet Stakes for statebreds going a mile on dirt June 27 at Los Alamitos.

Saturday’s 11-race program begins with the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

Warren’s Showtime, a 3-year-old filly with three stakes wins at a mile on turf, will face older rivals for the first time. Warren’s Showtime was fourth in the Evening Jewel Stakes at six furlongs on May 16 after racing in traffic in early stretch.

Trained by Craig Lewis, Warren’s Showtime faces Super Patriot, who was second in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in January; Cordiality, unraced since a win in the 2019 Fran’s Valentine; and Pulpit Rider, who was second in the Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar last August but was disqualified and placed sixth for causing interference in the stretch.

The Fran’s Valentine Stakes is the 2020 debut of Pulpit Rider, winner of two one-mile turf stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies in 2018.