Jungle Prince pounces to take Hollywood Turf Express
In Saturday’s $150,000
Hollywood Turf Express H. (G3), JUNGLE PRINCE (Sir Cat) hounded the
pacesetting Lazzeri (Grand Slam) through splits of :23 and :45 1/5 before wresting
the lead in the stretch and holding on for a half-length decision. The Juan
Garcia charge finished six furlongs in 1:08 3/5 on the firm Hollywood turf with Agapito Delgadillo to earn his fifth stakes victory, but his first at the graded
level after a couple of near misses. Ignored in the wagering at 10-1, Jungle
Prince rewarded his supporters with payouts of $23, $7.80 and $5.60.
In Summation (Put It Back) finished energetically inside the final furlong to
reduce the winner’s margin, giving back $5 and $4.40 at 7-2 and ending the
$57.60 exacta ($1). The nearly 12-1 Moth Ball (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) got up
for third, another half-length back, to return $5.40 and complete the $477.80
trifecta ($1). Osidy (Storm Cat) checked in fourth at 4-1, resulting in an 8-7-2-6
superfecta ($1) worth $1,247. Sherwood Park (Saint Ballado) was next under the
line, followed by Houseofroyalhearts (Chester House), 8-5 favorite Captain Kurt
(NZ) (Volksraad) and Lazzeri.
Jungle Prince boosted his bankroll to $480,888 from his 29-8-6-6 scoreline.
Earlier this season, the five-year-old bay gelding captured the Phoenix Gold Cup
H. and in September garnered his second straight title the Governor’s Cup H.
Last year, he took the Zia Park Express H. Jungle Prince has five stakes
placings to his credit, including narrow losses in the 2005 Morvich H. (G3) and
the 2006 El Conejo H. (G3), as well as a third in the Ancient Title Breeders’
Cup S. (G1) two starts back.
Bred in Kentucky by Nick Bentley, the winner races in the colors of Jack D.
Burk, Joseph A. Sciarra and Robert Zamarripa. Jungle Prince was produced by the
winning Seattle Song mare Wayward Song, making him a half-brother to an unnamed
yearling colt by Yankee Gentleman.