Prince Abama stalked the leader for the first portion of the 12-furlong Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar Friday, took over the lead at the mile marker, then simply outran his six rivals in the Grade 2 headliner to report home a three-quarter length winner.
The 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding by the British sire Tamayuz, owned by Michael House, earned a first prize of $150,000 for taking the $250,000 feature and pushed his lifetime earnings up to $327,553 with his third victory in 10 starts.
He was ridden by Flavien Prat, who was tallying his fourth winner of the afternoon. The chestnut is trained by Phil D’Amato, who was capturing the marathon for the second year in a row. He took it last year with the 6-year-old Say the Word.
D'Amato said Prat's timing and Prince Abama's maturation added up to the victory.
Prince Abama & Flavien Prat turn for home in front to win the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup. pic.twitter.com/rbPrAI37zi
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 25, 2022
Finishing second in Friday’s affair was Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners or Frassetto’s The Grey Wizard, who was a head better than Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Freeman and LaPenta’s Avenue.
Prince Abama paid $7.60, $4.00 and $3.00 across the board. The Grey Wizard returned $5.60 and $4.00, while Avenue paid $4.80 to show.
Nobody could identify all six winners in the Pick Six Single Ticket Jackpot wager for the eighth day in a row. That means that the carryover will amount to $295,929 on Saturday. The nine-race card has a first post of 12:30 p.m. PST (3:30 p.m. EST).
