Cassidy reroutes Prize Exhibit, Into the Mystic to Megahertz Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The $100,000 Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita on Monday was not the first goal of 2017 for Prize Exhibit or Into the Mystic.

Trainer Jim Cassidy intended to start Prize Exhibit in the Las Cienegas Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 7, but the race was transferred to the dirt because of wet weather. Into the Mystic was a candidate for Sunday’s Astra Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf, but the race was postponed until late January or early February because of wet turf.

The Megahertz is run at a mile on turf for fillies and mares. The race may be too long for Prize Exhibit and too short for Into the Mystic.

The Grade 3 Megahertz drew a field of seven and is the seventh of 10 races on a program that begins at noon Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Prize Exhibit, by Showcasing

Last 3 Beyers: 90-87-88

◗ Prize Exhibit was eighth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Dec. 4 at 49-1. Owned by Deron Pearson, Prize Exhibit won the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside turf course in January 2016.

◗ A closer, Prize Exhibit was second in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar last August.

“It’s a matter of traffic with her,” Cassidy said. “She’s climbing off the walls. Going into the Las Cienegas, she was as good as I’ve seen her.”

Into the Mystic, by Galileo

Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-89

◗ Into the Mystic won her American debut in an optional claimer at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 20. More recently, she was fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in November.

Trainer Richard Mandella is concerned about Monday’s distance.

“I’ll run her and hope she runs okay,” Mandella said. “I was thinking she might need a mile and a quarter.”

Do the Dance, by Discreet Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 89-82-80

◗ Do the Dance won her first stakes in the restricted Kathryn Crosby at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 11. She led throughout to win for the third time in her last five starts. The gap between the Crosby and the Megahertz concerns trainer Gary Sherlock.

“That’s a problem, how fit she is,” Sherlock said. “The weather interrupted her training.”

Rain last week led to no turf racing at Santa Anita under clear skies Friday and Saturday. Sherlock is hoping the turf course is dry by Monday.

“If it’s not firm, she’ll run terrible,” Sherlock said.

Kenriya, by Kendargent

◗ A French import, Kenriya was group-stakes-placed last April at a mile on turf at Chantilly. In six starts, she is winless in three races on turf and unbeaten in three races on all-weather surfaces.

◗ Christophe Ferland trained Kenriya in France. She will race for him for the final time Monday before being transferred to Richard Baltas. In the Megahertz, Baltas starts Tiz a Kiss, who was second in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes but seventh in the Matriarch.