Uncle Mo’s Celestial City Shines in Hill Prince

[Wandering Eyes]

Made the lukewarm 38-10 favorite for Saturday's GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct, Stuart Janney III's CELESTIAL CITY (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Lunar Evening, by Malibu Moon) found his best stride entering the final eighth of a mile and outfinished Mackinnon (American Pharoah) for a maiden success at the stakes level. Exiting a local allowance victory Sept. 24, having previously dead-heated for the place spot behind the GI Breeders' Cup Mile-bound 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) in a paceless renewal of Saratoga's GIII Saranac S. three weeks prior, Celestial City bobbled slightly at the start and dropped straight out the back and was taken hold of by Jose Lezcano to sit second last out of the stretch. A touch keen as the speed dropped away through the middle stages, Celestial City scraped paint around the second turn, got a dream run into the stretch, pressed away from the inside at the furlong grounds and quickened up nicely for the victory. Celestial City, who is out of a half-sister to GISW Hymn Book (Arch), becomes the 84th stakes winner and 46th graded winner for his versatile stallion. The cross of Uncle Mo over A.P. Indy-line mares is responsible for the likes of Grade I winners Mo Donegal and Mo Town and additional graded winners Modernist and Mopotism. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2. O/B-Stuart S Janney III (KY); T-Shug McGaughey.

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