Winning Prize preps for Kilroe Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Spring training begins at Santa Anita on Sunday for Winning Prize, a six-time stakes winner in Argentina and California.

Trained by Neil Drysdale, Winning Prize will have his 2015 debut in the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Drysdale considers the Hernandez a prep race for the $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf March 7, a race Winning Prize won in 2014.

Giving Winning Prize two starts in less than two weeks is not a concern, Drysdale said.

The Hernandez Stakes has drawn a strong field, including the stakes winners Distinctiv Passion, Home Run Kitten, Seeking the Sherif, and Sweet Swap.

KEY CONTENDERS Winning Prize (Last 3 Beyers: 88-79-105)

◗ Owned by Dave Heerensperger and Jose Nelson, Winning Prize won four stakes in Argentina in 2012 and two graded stakes at Santa Anita last year. Winning Prize has not raced since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes at Woodbine last August.

“He needed a break,” Drysdale said. “He’s a very energetic horse.”

◗ Winning Prize, a 6-year-old horse by the Storm Cat stallion Pure Prize, has not won since the 2014 Kilroe. He won the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes in February 2014.

◗ Drysdale said turf miles are the main goal for Winning Prize this year.

“I don’t think he necessarily has to win this race,” Drysdale said. “The idea is to get him ready for the Kilroe.”

Home Run Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 94-91-88)

◗ Home Run Kitten won the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course last September and was 11th, beaten four lengths by Bobby’s Kitten, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 1. Trained by David Hofmans, Home Run Kitten has run twice at this meeting, finishing second by a neck in the Grade 2 Mathis Bros. Mile on Dec. 26 and third in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at a mile Jan. 31.

◗ Home Run Kitten is a closer who will be ridden for the first time Sunday by Gary Stevens, who was aboard the colt for a recent workout.

“He tries every time, and the distance doesn’t matter,” Hofmans said.

◗ The depth of the Hernandez field surprised Hofmans, who said he chose this race over the Kilroe for Home Run Kitten.

“I didn’t think it would come up this tough, but this is what we have,” he said.

Hay Dude (Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-87)

◗ Hay Dude was second in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 25, finishing a half-length behind Pure Tactics after racing in traffic in the stretch. Hay Dude is winless in four starts since arriving from England last fall and has trained well in recent weeks, according to trainer Phil D’Amato said.

“I still think he’s of that caliber but needs to show it,” D’Amato said. “I think he’ll have a clear run on the outside. I’m looking for a win.”