Prospect Park to get stakes try after impressive optional-claiming win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Prospect Park earned a start in a stakes race after an impressive win in an optional claimer at a mile Friday. Now, owners Marty and Pam Wygod and trainer Clifford Sise have to pick a race.

“Marty is going to focus on where to go,” Sise said Saturday. “We want to find the easiest spot.”

One local option is the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles March 7. California Chrome won the 2014 San Felipe and the Santa Anita Derby a month later before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last spring.

Prospect Park closed from fourth in a field of five Friday. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Prospect Park was blocked behind runners and accelerated rapidly when space developed in early stretch. Prospect Park pulled clear to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:35.67. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Bred by the Wygods, Prospect Park is by top stallion Tapit out of Quiet Romance, the dam of Proposed, the winner of the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes in 2006 and two other stakes, and Silent Sighs, the winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks in 2004 and two other stakes.