Prize Exhibit faces another elite foe in Royal Heroine Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Prize Exhibit cannot shake loose of Grade 1 stakes winners.

On March 10, Prize Exhibit was a game second to Illuminant in the minor Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. Illuminant won the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes last May.

In the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf Saturday, Prize Exhibit is part of a field of eight that includes Harmonize, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last August.

The $200,000 Royal Heroine is one of two graded stakes for fillies and mares on turf on Saturday’s 11-race program. The Grade 3 Providencia Stakes, with a purse of $150,000, is run at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies.

Prize Exhibit won the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf in January, ending a 10-race losing streak, all in stakes. Prize Exhibit has won 7 of 32 starts, with four stakes wins.

In the Wishing Well, Prize Exhibit closed from sixth to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind Illuminant. In the Royal Heroine, trainer Jim Cassidy’s greatest concern is not Harmonize but the possibility that the race may develop without significant pressure for expected pacesetter Juno.

“I think it’s as good of a race as the hillside,” Cassidy said. “The only problem is there is not much speed in there. I’m hoping someone else goes, too.”

Harmonize, trained by Bill Mott, has not raced since finishing second in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs last May. A four-time stakes winner, she is a threat from the back of the field.

Juno was a Group 1 winner at a mile in Brazil in 2015 but was winless in four starts for trainer Richard Mandella last year. She joined Neil Drysdale’s stable over the winter and will have her first start for him Saturday.

Hillhouse High and Pretty Girl should get good trips as stalkers. Hillhouse High was fourth in the Wishing Well. Pretty Girl was second to Goodyearforroses in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes on turf March 12 in her only start this year.

◗ The unbeaten Sircat Sally will have her graded stakes debut in the Providencia. The versatile filly could have started in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks or the $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Sircat Sally has won three stakes – the Soviet Problem for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at a mile at Los Alamitos in December, the California Cup Oaks on turf here in January, and the China Doll Stakes against open company at a mile on turf here March 11.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said staying in two-turn turf races made the most sense. The Providencia will be the longest race of Sircat Sally’s career.

“She’s shown plenty of improvement in her races,” Hollendorfer said. “We’re looking forward to going a longer distance.”

Beau Recall and Princess Roi have excellent turf form. Beau Recall was second in the China Doll in her stakes debut, closing with an eye-catching move. Princess Roi, who can run near the front, was second in the Blue Norther Stakes on turf in December and third in the Cal Cup Oaks.

Union Strike is the only Grade 1 winner in the field, having won the Del Mar Debutante last September. Owner and trainer Mick Ruis said on Thursday that Union Strike could skip the race for Sunday’s Santa Paula Stakes for sprinters. Union Strike has not raced since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos last December.