Cafe Prince (USA)
April 11, 1970 – ?
Creme Dela Creme (USA) x Princess Blair (USA), by Blue Prince (USA)
Family 3-m
April 11, 1970 – ?
Creme Dela Creme (USA) x Princess Blair (USA), by Blue Prince (USA)
Family 3-m
One of the many fine steeplechasers owned by George Strawbridge Jr. and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Cafe Prince followed Strawbridge’s usual pattern of giving a horse a trial on the flat first before converting it to racing over the fences. Cafe Prince never came close to winning in five starts against maidens and maiden claimers at 2 and 3, but he showed what he was made for when he cleared off by 6½ lengths in his second start over hurdles. That was in a US$10,000 maiden claimer, but Cafe Prince continued to progress from there as he gained maturity and experience. His career was hampered by repeated tendon injuries, but he reached the peak of his division in the United States at ages 8 and 9, earning Eclipse Awards as the American champion steeplechaser.
Race record
65 starts, 14 wins, 12 second, 13 thirds, US$64,171
1974:
1975:
1977:
1978:
1979:
1980:
Honors
As an individual
A big, rawboned bay gelding, Cafe Prince suffered repeated tendon injuries to his left foreleg during his career and was sidelined for nine months due to a respiratory problem in 1979-1980. He possessed good natural speed for a steeplechaser and could fly the target from the start or come from off the pace.
Connections
Foaled in California, Cafe Prince was bred by Verne Winchell. A US$17,000 purchase from the 1971 Saratoga yearling sale, he was owned by Augustin Stable (George Strawbridge Jr.) and was trained by Jonathan Sheppard. He was most frequently ridden by Jerry Fishback but scored his win in the 1978 American Grand National under Tom Skiffington.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1966 Jersey Derby winner Creme Dela Creme, Cafe Prince is inbred 3x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the leader of the English/Irish general sire list in 1951. He is a half brother to 1973 Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G3) winner Woodland Pines (by Lt. Stevens).
Cafe Prince was produced from unraced Princess Blair, whose sire Blue Prince (by Princequillo) was a multiple stakes winner in England). Princess Blair, in turn, was produced from Jean Blair (by the stakes-placed Nasrullah horse Somali II), a half sister to 1959 Choice Stakes winner Scotland (by Princequillo). The next dam in Cafe Prince’s tail-female line, Vermont Marble (by Challedon) never raced but is a half sister to Sweet Afton (by Balladier), dam of juvenile stakes winner Sweet Error (by Errard King).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 18, 2022
Race record
65 starts, 14 wins, 12 second, 13 thirds, US$64,171
1974:
- Won Lovely Night Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16.5FT, Saratoga)
1975:
- Won Colonial Cup International Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 22FT, Camden)
- 3rd Temple Gwathmey International Gold Cup Steeplechase (USA, 21FT, Ligonier)
- New course record of 4:07 for 17.5FT at Fair Hill (steeplechase handicap)
1977:
- Won Colonial Cup International (USA, 22FT, Camden)
- 3rd Indian River Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Delaware)
1978:
- Won King of Spain International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Ligonier)
- Won Grand National Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 20FT, Fair Hill)
- 2nd Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 21FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Colonial Cup International Steeplechase (USA, 22FT, Camden)
1979:
- Won Lovely Night Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16.5FT, Saratoga; equaled course record 3:41-1/5)
1980:
- Won Metcalf Memorial Steeplechase (USA, 16FT, Red Bank; new course record 3:44)
- 2nd Grand National Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 21FT, Foxfield)
- New course record of 3:40 for 16FT at Ligonier (allowance on flat)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1985)
- Eclipse Award, American champion steeplechaser (1978, 1979)
As an individual
A big, rawboned bay gelding, Cafe Prince suffered repeated tendon injuries to his left foreleg during his career and was sidelined for nine months due to a respiratory problem in 1979-1980. He possessed good natural speed for a steeplechaser and could fly the target from the start or come from off the pace.
Connections
Foaled in California, Cafe Prince was bred by Verne Winchell. A US$17,000 purchase from the 1971 Saratoga yearling sale, he was owned by Augustin Stable (George Strawbridge Jr.) and was trained by Jonathan Sheppard. He was most frequently ridden by Jerry Fishback but scored his win in the 1978 American Grand National under Tom Skiffington.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1966 Jersey Derby winner Creme Dela Creme, Cafe Prince is inbred 3x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the leader of the English/Irish general sire list in 1951. He is a half brother to 1973 Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G3) winner Woodland Pines (by Lt. Stevens).
Cafe Prince was produced from unraced Princess Blair, whose sire Blue Prince (by Princequillo) was a multiple stakes winner in England). Princess Blair, in turn, was produced from Jean Blair (by the stakes-placed Nasrullah horse Somali II), a half sister to 1959 Choice Stakes winner Scotland (by Princequillo). The next dam in Cafe Prince’s tail-female line, Vermont Marble (by Challedon) never raced but is a half sister to Sweet Afton (by Balladier), dam of juvenile stakes winner Sweet Error (by Errard King).
Fun facts
- When Cafe Prince was making his comeback from the second of two bowed tendons in July 1977, George Strawbridge elected to risk the gelding in a US$40,000 claimer on the flat at Delaware, gambling that no one would want to take the horse due to his repeated injuries. Cafe Prince finished fourth but was not claimed and gained needed conditioning for his return to steeplechasing. He was not risked for a tag again during the remainder of his career.
Last updated: January 18, 2022