Hong Kong Harry (IRE)

Hong Kong Harry, an Irish-bred Es Que Love gelding, made his first seven career starts in England during 2020-21 and won four of them while competing at second-tier racecourses. He moved to the U.S. in 2022 and joined Phil D’Amato’s barn in southern California, and immediately found success by winning two allowance optional claiming races at Santa Anita Park.

D’Amato elevated Hong Kong Harry to graded stakes company for his third stateside start, entering him in the Grade 3 American Stakes on Santa Anita’s June 19 closing-day card. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Hong Kong Harry stalked the pace while saving ground under Ramon Vazquez before angling out and kicking clear in the stretch to a three-quarter-length win, making him a perfect 3-for-3 in North America.

Hong Kong Harry suffered his first North American defeat in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on July 31, settling for second that day after some early trouble in the race left him further back off the pace than he is accustomed to. 

Hong Kong Harry wasted no time getting back in the win column, however, winning his next start in the Grade 2 $300,000 Del Mar Mile under Flaven Prat. He sat patiently off a suicidal speed duel in the race and made his move from mid-pack in the stretch to power past the field for a comfortable victory in a time of 1:33.15 for the grass mile. Hong Kong Harry was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of nine and paid $4.40 to win.

Hong Kong Harry continued his near domination of the southern California turf at middle distances when he won again in his next start in the Grade 2 $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap back at Del Mar on Nov. 26. Sent off as the 8-5 favorite in an eight-horse field, Hong Kong Harry rallied in the stretch and prevailed by a neck over runner-up Beyond Brilliant. Hong Kong Harry ran the 1 1/16-mile distance in a winning time of 1:39.79 and paid $5.20 to win.

Hong Kong Harry returned for his 6-year-old campaign in 2023 on March 4 with a fourth-place finish in a Grade 1 Kilroe Mile and then hit the board with a second-place finish in Churchill Downs' Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 6 and then finished third back in California in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 29 at Santa Anita.

Hong Kong Harry returned to the winner's circle with a victory in the Grade 2 $200,000 City of Hope Mile on Sept. 30 at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 1.10-1 favorite in a nine-horse field, Hong Kong Harry stalked the pace close-up on a turf course labeled good at Santa Anita and was able to overtake the leader in the late stages to win by a neck.