Cairo Prince sends out first winner at Belmont Park

The Wesley Ward-trained Abyssinian dominated Saturday’s 1ST race at Belmont Park, a $100,000 maiden special weight, to become the first winner for freshman sire Cairo Prince.

Runner-up on debut to stablemate Mae Never No, the first winner sired by No Nay Never, Abyssinian has gone off as the odds-on choice in both of her starts. The Hat Creek Racing runner was bet down to 3-5 favoritism here and gave her backers confidence at every call in the five-furlong dash. Under new rider Joel Rosario, Abyssinian sped right to an uncontested lead, reeled off fractions of :22.30 and :46.09 on the sloppy track, and finished seven lengths clear in :59.44.

The 2-1 second choice, Mertz, was best of the rest, and first-time starter Jazzy J checked in third. The winner’s coupled entrymate, Romani, was scratched.

The well-named Abyssinian is out of Shesakitty, a daughter of Tapit who placed in the 2012 Debutante S. (G3). Bred by Dede McGehee in Kentucky, the gray was purchased for $70,000 as a Keeneland September yearling.

That was not representative of Cairo Prince’s stature in the market, for the son of Pioneerof the Nile was generally setting the sales ring alight. He racked up an average of $138,279 with his first-crop yearlings, highlighted by a $900,000 colt (bought by Shadwell and now named Mutadarrib).

Cairo Prince’s appeal was bolstered by the fact he ranked as the sometime favorite for the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1). The Kiaran McLaughlin pupil captured his first two starts by daylight, including the 2013 Nashua (G2), and just missed to future champion Honor Code in the Remsen (G2). After opening his sophomore season with a 5 3/4-length decision in the Holy Bull (G2), named in honor of his broodmare sire, Cairo Prince was the 6-5 favorite to follow up in the Florida Derby (G1). Unfortunately, he wound up an uncharacteristic fourth, exited with an injury, and never raced again. The gray compiled a mark of 5-3-1-0, $562,000.

Cairo Prince was produced by multiple stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Holy Bubbette, who is also responsible for Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia, herself the dam of Grade 1 victor Outwork.

The seven-year-old stallion stands at Airdrie Stud near Lexington, Kentucky, for a fee of $25,000 live foal.