Handicapper's Corner: 2022 Hill Prince Stakes (G2)

Hill Prince Stakes Picks n' Plays

By Robert Marks (@theyreinthegate)

 

Saturday at 3:48 pm Eastern time is the $300,000 Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes, for 3-year-olds on the Turf at 1 and 1/8 miles, held at Aqueduct Racetrack. The meet is called Belmont at Aqueduct as the usual Fall season at Belmont Park has been shifted by NYRA to Aqueduct due to construction and renovation at Belmont. So, if you are planning a trip just make sure you go to the Big A and not Belmont. 

Here is your 10-horse field with Morning Line Odds:

 

Hall of Fame Trainer Claude “Shug” McGaughey III has 2 bullets in his gun as he enters 4-1 Limited Liability and 7-2 Celestial City.  Of the two we like Limited Liability.  He has progressed slowly but surely, breaking his maiden at Keenland in April, finishing 3^rd in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, 7^th in the Belmont Derby, then 3^rd last month in the Virginia Derby. Throughout his speed figures have increased. With Turf it always depends on lane traffic but having Jose Ortiz on board, who has been on this horse for every race will help. This horse is a closer.

 

An interesting entry is 9-2 Mackinnon with Flavian Prat aboard. Chad Brown will train this horse for the 1^st time, taking over from Doug O’Neill who trained him out west where he had an impressive 2-year-old racing year including 3^rd in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. He has had a so-so 3-year-old campaign starting on the dirt before going back to the Turf. I think a change of scenery and having Chad Brown take over will result in a top 3 placing for this colt.

 

Chad Brown also saddles Unanimous Consent with Manny Franco aboard at morning line odds of 6-1. He has 3 wins out of 5 starts as well as a win at Aqueduct in the Woodhaven Stakes last April. He was 4^th last time out, finishing just behind Limited Liability in the Virginal Derby with an impressive speed figure. I believe the mile and an eight will prove to be his preferred distance.

 

As far as the rest of the field Celestial City can’t be ignored, especially being in the one hole.  He is more of an early pace setter and from this position might just go and try to hang on. He gets Jose Lezcano aboard.

 

I see Celestial City in front coming around the final turn with a stretch run of MacKinnon, Unanimous Consent and Limited Liability coming from behind these three to nip them at the wire.

 

Bets: $100 dollar Budget

$50-win Limited Liability

$2 Trifecta Box: Limited Liability, Mackinnon, Celestial City, Unanimous Consent (total bet $48)

$2 place: MacKinnon