Resilient Caroline St. Beat Returns in Hill Prince

Caroline St. Beat is not your typical 3-year-old colt. He's actually the kind of horse who can warm the heart and resurrect memories in the minds of old-time horsemen and fans of the days when horses raced with far more frequency. At a time when trainers covet more time between races for their horses, Caroline St. Beat pulled off a rare feat last month when he returned to the races on just a week's rest in a demanding 1 5/16-mile graded turf stakes and collected a 1 1/2-length victory Sept. 5 in the $1,832,500 Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs. "All the credit goes to the owners for being bold enough to do it," trainer Miguel Clement said. "He's a very tough horse. He eats remarkably well, he's got great bone, and physically, he's very impressive to look at. If there's a horse in the barn that could handle that kind of training and shipping, he would be the prime candidate to do something that bold." After turning back the clock and showing he can excel on short rest, Caroline St. Beat is now getting a more customary break for the era as he will return with five weeks of rest and face eight rivals in the $200,000 Hill Prince Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-olds Oct. 10 at Belmont Park. "He's doing great. We've always loved him and think very highly of him," Clement said. As a New York-bred son of Tiz the Law, Caroline St. Beat started his career for owners Madaket Stables and Steven Bouchey last year at Saratoga Race Course, prevailing by 2 1/4 lengths in an Aug. 15 state-bred maiden special weight race. He raced once more in 2025, finishing second in the Notebook Stakes, and then began his 2026 campaign with a second in the July 24 Rick Violette Stakes. He then notched an Aug. 29 allowance win over older state-breds before shipping down to Kentucky for his seven-figure stakes score. The $1,175,875 earner was bred by Lawrence Goichman out of the Scat Daddy mare Myhartblongstodady. He was purchased for $100,000 from the Indian Creek consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearlings Sale. Foremost among the competition in Saturday's 1 3/16-mile stakes is Willow Pond Stable's Lennox the Grey, who is exiting a front-running victory in the Sept. 7 Old Dominion Derby (G3T) at Colonial Downs. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, the son of Liam's Map has won three of his last four starts. Shortleaf Stable's Chambersville was third in the Old Dominion Derby, a half-length behind Lennox the Grey after pressing the pace of the winner from the start. Trained by Ken McPeek, the Twirling Candy colt has won two of his 11 starts. Heeere's Johnny won the listed Saranac Stakes on turf in July at the Spa and was second in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last year. Owned by Magic Carpet Racing, Catherine Coyle, and Blue Bison Stable, the son of Oscar Performance was seventh in the Old Dominion Derby for trainer Ray Handal.