Prince of Monaco stays perfect but his Beyer drops to an 87

DEL MAR, Calif. – Prince of Monaco on Sunday became Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s record 17th career winner in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, joining a crowded list that began with Silver Charm in 1996.

The record will be safe for decades. No other active trainer has won the seven-furlong race for 2-year-olds more than twice.

Prince of Monaco earned another unique distinction, returning only $2.10, the lowest win price in the 76-year history of the race. The previous mark of $2.20 was set by the Baffert-trained Officer in 2001.

Prince of Monaco leaves the Del Mar summer season as the leading 2-year-old in California, and one of the top juveniles in the nation.

Prince of Monaco is unbeaten in three starts, having won a five-furlong maiden race by eight lengths at Los Alamitos in July and the Grade 3 Best Pal at six furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths on Aug. 13 at Del Mar.

In the $300,500 Del Mar Futurity, Prince of Monaco stalked the Baffert-trained Mirahmadi to early stretch before winning by three-quarters of a length over that rival, who is winless after four starts.

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“I’m proud of both of them,” said Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s chief assistant. “It was great to see, but it all changes from here when we go two turns.”

Baffert did not attend Sunday’s race. He traveled to Kentucky over the weekend for the Keeneland September yearling sale.

By Speightstown, Prince of Monaco earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103 in the Best Pal, the highest by a juvenile this year. For the Del Mar Futurity, he earned a figure of 87, much lower than the 98 earned by the Baffert-trained Cave Rock in the 2022 Del Mar Futurity.

The next test for Prince of Monaco will come this fall in races at 1 1/16 miles. The colt’s next start could be the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 7 at Santa Anita. The winner of the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes earns a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Last year, Cave Rock was the easy winner of the American Pharoah but was second at 1-2 in the BC Juvenile at Keeneland to Forte, the year’s champion 2-year-old male.

Owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, Prince of Monaco has earned $327,000 in his three wins. The colt was purchased at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale for $950,000.

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