Raining Prince delivered a determined performance in Saturday’s $100.000 Hope Stakes (Grade III) at Del Mar, rallying from fourth position to capture the seven-furlong test for two-year-olds under Juan Hernandez for Nakamura Stables. The gray gelding posted a final time of 1:23.52 over a good track, earning his fourth career victory and first graded stakes triumph. Making his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs in September, Raining Prince demonstrated his effectiveness at the seven-furlong distance while adding to his growing resume as one of the division’s improving prospects.

Flow & Calls

As the gates opened for the Hope Stakes, Haggis Smoothie broke sharply from post eleven to establish the early lead through an opening quarter mile in :22.4. Bumpin emerged from post seven to secure second position, pressing the pace, while Sabbath broke from post four and settled into third. Raining Prince, breaking from post six, positioned himself in fourth under Hernandez, tracking the early leaders in perfect stalking position.

Through the half-mile marker reached in :46.3, Haggis Smoothie maintained his advantage on the front end, continuing to dictate the pace. Bumpin remained in second, keeping pressure on the leader. Raining Prince had begun his move forward, advancing to third position as Hernandez started to position his mount for the stretch drive. Sabbath continued to track in fourth, remaining within striking distance of the leaders.

As the field reached the six-furlong marker in 1:11.1, the race began to take shape for the stretch run. Haggis Smoothie continued to show the way on the front end, but his lead was diminishing as the closers gathered momentum. Raining Prince had moved into a threatening second position, perfectly placed to strike as the field straightened for home. Sabbath advanced to third, looming as a dangerous factor. Bumpin had dropped back from his earlier pressing position as the pace began to take its toll.

In the final furlong, Raining Prince surged to the lead and drew clear, displaying a powerful turn of foot that his rivals could not match. Sabbath finished with determination to secure second place, making up ground in the final strides but unable to catch the winner. Haggis Smoothie battled on courageously to maintain third after setting honest fractions throughout. Yonis On The Run continued his forward momentum to finish fourth. The winner crossed the finish line three-quarters of a length in front of the runner-up, completing the seven furlongs in 1:23.52.

Each Runner Mentioned

Raining Prince rated in fourth through the opening quarter, advanced to third at the half-mile marker, moved into second at the six-furlong call, and powered to the lead in the stretch to score by three-quarters of a length for his fourth career victory.

Sabbath settled in third through the opening quarter, raced in fourth at the half-mile marker, advanced to third at the six-furlong call, and finished strongly to claim second place, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Haggis Smoothie set the pace through all three calls with fractions of :22.4, :46.3, and 1:11.1, but was overtaken in the final furlong while holding on gamely for third place, finishing three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

Yonis On The Run raced in eighth position through the opening quarter, improved to fifth at the half-mile marker, advanced to fifth at the six-furlong call, and maintained that momentum to finish fourth, beaten a neck for third.

Single Barrel raced in tenth position early, improved to seventh at the half-mile call, advanced to seventh at the six-furlong marker, and finished strongly to dead-heat for fifth place.

Sunny Cide raced in sixth position through the opening quarter, maintained sixth at the half-mile marker, moved to fifth at the six-furlong call, and finished in a dead heat for fifth place.

Ranger Jim broke from the outside post and raced in eleventh early, improved to eighth at the half-mile call, advanced to seventh at the six-furlong marker, and finished seventh, beaten only a head for the share of fifth.

Dirt Eating Boy raced in fifth position through the opening quarter, maintained fifth at the half-mile marker, dropped to sixth at the six-furlong call, and finished eighth.

Soho Danze raced in seventh position early, advanced to fourth at both the half mile and six-furlong markers, but faded in the final furlong to finish ninth.

Bumpin pressed the pace in second through both the opening quarter and half-mile marker, dropped to third at the six-furlong call, but retreated in the stretch to finish tenth.

Hawks Impaired raced in fourth position through the opening quarter, dropped to eighth at the half-mile marker, fell back to tenth at the six-furlong call, and finished eleventh.

Winner’s Profile & What’s Next

Raining Prince, a gray gelding by Prince Cherokee out of Bring The Rain, was bred and is owned by Nakamura Stables in California. The victory pushes his lifetime earnings to $217.200 with four wins from six career starts. Having captured his first graded stakes at seven furlongs, Raining Prince could target additional juvenile stakes as the season progresses or begin preparation for three-year-old competition in 2026.

Track: Good
Time: :22⁴  :46³  1:11¹  1:23²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 4 Paid 59.40
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 4 – 11 Paid 142.20

Scratched: Wind Beneath Wings

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES