NY Stakes Action Kicks off with Friday's Hill Prince Stakes

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Transylvania winner Marcavelly tries Belmont's Hill Prince Friday.
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(edited press release)

Six 3-year-olds will battle one mile over the Widener Turf Course in Friday’s 33rd running of the $100,000-added Hill Prince (gr. IIIT), a race in which Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher are likely to combine for a very chalky exacta box.

Mott sends out Marcavelly under Edgar Prado. The Johannesburg colt beat a much tougher field than this one two months ago in Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Pletcher saddles Distorted Reality, son of Distorted Humor   who has only been beaten once in three starts. Distorted Reality suffered his only loss on the grass last month in Churchill Downs’ American Turf (gr. IIIT) when he finished fifth by 1 ½ -lengths. Distorted Reality will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Another recognizable face in the Hill Prince is Bill Kaplan trainee Storm in May, who finished 16th in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The grey colt’s last victory came in the Jan. 27 Sunshine Millions Dash.

Royal War Academy, Reptilian Smarts, Codeword, and Believeinmenow complete the field.

Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT, race 10, approximate post 5:40 p.m.), $100,000-added for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf

1. Distorted Reality, John Velazquez, 116
2. Storm in May, Juan Leyva, 123
3. Marcavelly, Edgar Prado, 120
4. Royal War Academy, Garrett Gomez, 116
5. Reptilian Smarts, Eibar Coa, 116
6. Codeword, Javier Castellano, 116
7. *Believeinmenow, Mike Luzzi, 120

*Main Track Only

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