Masochistic may point to Bing Crosby

ARCADIA, Calif. - Fanticola, Masochistic, and Prize Exhibit won the biggest races of their careers at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Fanticola won the $201,000 Royal Heroine Stakes, a Grade 2 for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. Masochistic won his Grade 1 debut in the $300,500 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs. Prize Exhibit won the $101,000 Senorita Stakes, a Grade 3 for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.

Each is likely to run in races of equal or greater value at Del Mar later this summer.

Masochistic had an 11-week gap between his win in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes on April 11 and the Triple Bend. Sunday, trainer Ron Ellis envisioned only a five-week break leading to the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 26.

“I might have to give some consideration for the Bing Crosby,” Ellis said. “It’s a Grade 1 and it’s a big money for a sprint. You don’t always get that kind of money for sprints.”

Ellis said that he has the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31 as a long-term goal for Masochistic. The 5-year-old gelding may have two starts at Del Mar, including the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 22.

In the Triple Bend, Masochistic disputed the pace throughout and won by 3 1/2 lengths as the even-money favorite.

Prize Exhibit ($21.80) closed from last of nine to win the Senorita Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over 7-1 Long Hot Summer, her first stakes win. Trainer Jim Cassidy said he thought jockey Santiago Gonzalez would have Prize Exhibit near the front, only to see her at the back of the field early.

Cassidy said he was impressed by Prize Exhibit’s late kick.

“I said, ‘Look at that move,’ ” Cassidy recalls thinking during the race. “When I saw her go four wide, I thought maybe she would flatten. She has all the talent in the world.”

The Del Mar 3-year-old filly division emphasizes turf stakes with the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on July 19, and the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 15. Those races will give Prize Exhibit a chance to show she can go longer distances. Cassidy is guarded.

“The mile might be her limit,” he said.

Fanticola was second in two graded stakes in the spring, including a neck loss in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes. She won her first graded stakes in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes, racing near the lead throughout and winning by a neck over Queen of the Sand.

“I’m happy for the filly,” D’Amato said. “She deserved to win a race like this.”

Fanticola is likely to start in the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares at Del Mar on Aug. 8. D’Amato said he likes the timing.

“That gives her spacing between the races,” D’Amato said.