Prince of Jericho Back on Top in Fire Plug

Munnings’ consistent Prince of Jericho (5h Munnings x Golden Review, by Medaglia d’Oro) added a third stakes victory to his record on Saturday with a win in the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel.

Looking to put a pair of second place finishes to end 2024 behind him, Prince of Jericho was sent off as the favorite in the 6 ½ furlong dirt race. Breaking just a tad slow from the gate at the start, Sheldon Russell quickly hustled him to the lead. He entered a duel to have the advantage going into the turn with On The Mark joining in at that point.

Prince of Jericho saw On The Mark get his head in front briefly, but was able to get in front at the top of the lane. The entire was able to pull away in the stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths for his seventh career victory.

Trained by Brittany Russell for Michael Dubb and Morris Bailey, Prince of Jericho has finished in the top three in 16 of 19 starts for $507,450 in earnings with placings in both of his graded stakes starts.

Bred by Edward Seltzer, Prince of Jericho is one of two to race out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Golden Review. That mare is a half-sister to Grade II winner Sparkling Review and the dam of Grade II winner Bluebirds Over.

Under Prince of Jericho’s third dam is Grade I winners No Review, Another Review, Rattle N Roll, Cavorting, and Clairiere.

This was the third stakes winner of the year for Munnings, who leads all North American stallions by stakes winners and winners this year and sired stakes winners on back-to-back days with Closing Act winning a stakes on Friday.