Rain-softened turf gives Prize Exhibit a lift

ARCADIA, Calif. – Recent rain in Southern California has been a boost for Prize Exhibit, the winner of the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 16.

Prize Exhibit was fourth and fifth in stakes on firm turf in October and November. The course was rated “good” for the Megahertz Stakes. Prize Exhibit closed from sixth in a field of seven to win by 1 1/4 lengths, ending a 10-race losing streak.

“I think the turf softening has helped,” trainer Jim Cassidy said.

Prize Exhibit is likely to start in the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf Feb. 18, Cassidy said.

As a 3-year-old in 2015, Prize Exhibit won two stakes at a mile on turf – the Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita and the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar. The Megahertz was her first stakes win since taking the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside turf course last January.

“It’s nice to see her get a mile again,” Cassidy said.

Owned by Deron Pearson, Prize Exhibit has won 7 of 31 starts and earned $637,045.

◗ Jockey Luis Contreras will miss Friday and Saturday’s programs at Santa Anita to ride the Pegasus World Cup program at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, according to his agent, Craig O’Bryan. Contreras, a 30-year-old former champion jockey in Canada, has ridden in Southern California in recent months. At the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, Contreras has won five races from 43 mounts.