Amira’s Prince shows the way home in Mervin H. Muniz

Amira’s Prince is now four-for-four in the U.S. with two stakes wins (Rick Samuels/Hodges Photography) Irish import Amira’s Prince used his rail post to grab command of Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap at Fair Grounds soon after the start and never looked back en route to a half-length victory over Willcox Inn on the wire. With Junior Alvarado aboard, the Bill Mott pupil ran about about 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:49 3/5 to add a second straight stakes win to his resume. Campaigned by Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, Amira’s Prince set splits of :50 4/5, 1:15 and 1:36 3/5 while pressed first by String King and then Willcox Inn. The latter took up the challenge when String King began fading in the lane and for a moment appeared ready to sweep on past the long-time leader. However, Amia’s Prince dug in to turn back the new threat and paid $4.60, $3.60 and $3.20 as the 6-5 favorite off a win in his U.S. stakes bow in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on February 16. “He just broke good and I mean he did everything pretty much easy,” Alvarado said. “You know, I didn’t want to fight with him at all so I just let him do his own thing. When it was time to run, I asked him and he gave me everything he had.” Willcox Inn took second by three lengths over String King while Doubles Partner rounded out the top four. Optimizer, hero of the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap and Grade 3 Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap in his last two, was next under the wire and followed by Two Months Rent, Bim Bam, Tiz Sardonic Joe, Quality Control and Fast Track.

“He ran great,” James Graham praised his mount, Willcox Inn. “We saved ground, and came
home in 11 seconds flat. How many horses can do that?”

Amira’s Prince is now perfect stateside from four starts, and boasts a
bankroll of $429,907 to go along with his 11-5-2-1 career mark.

A $250,362 Tattersalls October yearling purchase by Mohammed Kazem al Ansari,
the bay finished fifth behind Imperial Monarch in a Curragh maiden in his only
start at two. The David Wachman trainee reappeared in a maiden at the same venue
last March, defeating Speaking of Which by 3 1/4 lengths. Amira’s Prince shipped
to Newmarket for the Tattersalls Millions Three-Year-Old Trophy, a lucrative
race for the sales alumni, and reported home fourth.

Tackling listed stakes company in the June 30 Celebration on Irish Derby Day,
he was beaten a total of 5 3/4 lengths by the victorious Sharestan, but just two
lengths by runner-up Mizani, in a solid race at that level. Amira’s Prince
dropped in class for his final three outings in Ireland, placing in conditions
races at Fairyhouse and Down Royal before missing by a nose in an August 21
handicap at Gowran Park. He sported the colors of Mrs. John Magnier in his Irish
swan song.

Bred by Gigginstown House Stud in Ireland, Amira’s Prince is a half-brother
to Group 3-placed stakes winner Hen Night. They are out of the Green Desert mare
Twice the Ease, who is a full sister to stakes victress and graded/group stakes
producer Desert Ease. Twice the Ease is also a half-sister to multiple Group
3-winning sprinter Two-Twenty-Two and Singapore stakes scorer Easy Definition.
Grade 2 vixen Dixieland Gold is also in the immediate family.

Amira’s Prince’s second dam is Group 2 heroine Easy to Copy. She is in turn a
full sister to a few notables — Irish classic winner Trusted Partner, dam of
Grade 1 star Dress to Thrill and ancestress of current Group 2 diva Sapphire;
Grade 3 scorer Low Key Affair; and multiple Group 3-placed stakes queen
Epicure’s Garden, dam of Irish highweight Lisieux Rose.

Amira’s Prince’s third dam is Talking Picture, the champion two-year-old
filly of 1973.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com