Abyssinian gallops by 7, becomes Cairo Prince’s first winner

Two-year-old filly, Abyssinian, became the first winner for her sire, Cairo Prince, on Saturday at Belmont Park. Customary for a Wesley Ward trainee, Abyssinian broke sharply and then steadily increased her advantage throughout to win by seven lengths while gently guided by Joel Rosario.

Bred by Dede McGehee’s Heaven Trees farm, Abyssinian is the second foal out of Shesakitty, a Graded-placed Tapit mare who was third in the G3 Debutante S. at Churchill Downs.

Abyssinian, like four of her rivals on Saturday, was making her second start. On her May 3rd debut, she finished a good second to her entrymate, Mae Never No, while 9 lengths clear of the remainder of the field. This time around, she skipped over a wet track to handily defeat Mertz (by Ghostzapper), who had previously been runner-up in a strong maiden special weight at Aqueduct.

Purchased for $70,000 out of the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Cromwell Bloodstock, Abyssinian races for Hat Creek Racing and Wesley Ward and is definitely one to keep an eye on this summer.