Royal Prince outruns Dyn O Mite in Black Gold Stakes

Royal Prince was a flat third when last seen racing Jan. 3 in a Fair Grounds allowance race, but facing a considerably deeper field on Saturday Royal Prince turned in a far stronger performance to win the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes in New Orleans.

Under Brian Hernandez Jr., Royal Prince was up by a nose over Dyn O Mite in an age-restricted turf route shaped in great part by pace. Dyn O Mite tracked pacesetter Lookin for Loki through a half-mile in an ambling 49.30 seconds, Royal Prince racing just behind Dyn O Mite. Those two sprinted for home at the quarter-mile pole and Palazzi, who had beaten Dyn O Mite last out in the Texas Turf Mile, had nearly no chance to run them down, settling for third after rallying from last. Dyn O Mite ran gamely in defeat, battling back after Royal Prince appeared to be going better a half-furlong from the finish.

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Trained by Brad Cox for Steve Landers Racing, Royal Prince won for the second time in five starts. At Kentucky Downs late this past summer, he had a first-place finish in a maiden race wiped away because of a gate malfunction. Royal Prince, a 3-year-old by Cairo Prince out of Rose and Shine, by Mr. Sekiguchi, was timed in 1:45.05 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course and paid $19.40 to win.

*** Jus Lively ($10) might well be a better horse on dirt than turf, but his first stakes win came on grass as he captured the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace on Saturday.

Just Lively outkicked Trey’s Midnight Moon to the line in this 7 1/2-furlong turf test, winning by a half-length as pacesetter Maga Man held decently for third and even-money Ninety One Assault could only finish fourth. Adam Beschizza rode Jus Lively for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner-breeder Pine Knoll Farm. Four-year-old Jus Lively is by Paddy O’Prado out of Lively Number, by Mt. Livermore.