Santa Anita: Winning Prize should relish firm turf in Arcadia

ARCADIA, Calif. – The ongoing drought in California may help Winning Prize end a two-race losing streak.

The winner of three Group 1 races in Argentina in 2012, Winning Prize was beaten in graded stakes at Keeneland and Hollywood Park last fall, races affected by wet weather. There has been no rain in Southern California in more than a month, so the turf course should be firm for Winning Prize’s 2014 debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Arcadia Stakes over a mile at Santa Anita.

Owned by Jose Nelson and David Heerensperger, Winning Prize is the likely favorite in the Grade 2 Arcadia, which drew a field of 10. Trainer Neil Drysdale is banking on firm ground and a patient ride from jockey Rafael Bejarano to give Winning Prize his first stakes win in the United States.

Winning Prize won his American debut in an optional claimer over a mile on turf at Del Mar in August. He led throughout and drew off to win by four lengths, one of the most comprehensive victories of that meeting.

Winning Prize was sent to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile in October, which was moved to the synthetic main track after a deluge of rain. Winning Prize finished fourth, five lengths behind Silver Max.

Winning Prize was third in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on Nov. 29, run on a good turf course. Winning Prize led to the eighth pole, but finished three-quarters of a length behind Silentio, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The loss left Drysdale wondering how Winning Prize would have performed in the Citation on firm turf. “He didn’t like the soft ground,” he said.

By the Storm Cat stallion Pure Prize, Winning Prize has frequently led or raced near the front in his 11-race career, which includes six wins and earnings of $280,840. Drysdale insists that Winning Prize is not a one-dimensional runner.

“I think he’s adaptable,” Drysdale said. “He’s relaxing now.”

A patient race by Bejarao will be vital in the Arcadia against a field that includes Regally Ready, winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; No Jet Lag, who won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes in October; Suggestive Boy, winner of the 2013 Arcadia Stakes; and Unbridled’s Note, who won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes for turf sprinters Dec. 28.

The other runners are Vagabond Shoes, who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in August; minor stakes winners Procurement and Tom’s Tribute; and longshots Peace and Justice and Si Sage.

Regally Ready and No Jet Lag have shown speed in their last starts. No Jet Lag, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, was seventh in the Sir Beaufort Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf, running in second behind a quick pace before fading in the final furlong. Trainer Simon Callaghan said earlier this week that No Jet Lag will have cotton in his ears and be fitted with a hood in an effort to get the 4-year-old gelding to relax.

Regally Ready led throughout an optional claimer over a mile on turf Jan. 2, his second win in his past three starts. Regally Ready is likely to be near the front Saturday.

“He’s an impressive work horse and he’s a free-running horse,” trainer Steve Asmussen said earlier this week. “His last race was a scenario that was in his favor.

“With his age, he’s relaxed a bit as he’s stretched out. I like his last race.”