Follow Me Crev might join Prospect Park in Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Follow Me Crev might start in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 12 after extending his winning streak to four races in an optional claimer on Sunday.

Follow Me Crev, trained by Vladimir Cerin for David and Holly Wilson, closed from last of six to win the race at 1 1/16 miles by 2 1/2 lengths over Prospect Park, the 4-5 favorite. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Follow Me Crev ($7.60) was timed in 1:36.81.

“It looks like he is getting better,” Cerin said. “If we can keep him in good shape, I want to be ambitious.”

Cerin said that might include a start in the Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles.

“Maybe,” he said. “Why not?”

Follow Me Crev, a 4-year-old gelding by Quality Road, easily beat Prospect Park, the winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap last summer. Prospect Park had not started since finishing third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby as the 3-10 favorite.

Trainer Clifford Sise saw Sunday’s race as a prep for the Big Cap for Prospect Park and said the loss did not change his outlook. Prospect Park was within a length of pacesetter Big Cazanova with a furlong to go but could not keep pace with Follow Me Crev in the final furlong. Big Cazanova finished third.

“He was due to get tired,” Sise said of Prospect Park. “We got a race into him, and we didn’t abuse him. He needed the race badly.”

Follow Me Crev and Prospect Park join the first three finishers of the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 6 – Hoppertunity, Imperative, and Donworth – as probable runners for the Big Cap. Trainer Phil D’Amato said he might consider the race for Big John B, a graded stakes winner on turf.