Winning Prize to scratch from American

ARCADIA, Calif. – Winning Prize will scratch from the Grade 3 American Stakes on Saturday, trainer Neil Drysdale said Friday. The winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile and the Grade 2 Arcadia in two recent starts, Winning Prize was the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the American.

“He hasn’t done well with the heat, which is very unusual for this time of year,” Drysdale said. “So, we’ll run in the next one.” The next one is the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on June 14.

Early this week, Drysdale expressed concern over the heat wave that enveloped Southern California and led to the cancellation of Thursday’s card.
Winning Prize is an aggressive horse whom Drysdale trains late in the morning to avoid excessive traffic and distractions. Late-morning temperatures midweek in Arcadia were in the 80s and 90s.

The scratch of Winning Prize will make Obviously a short-priced favorite in the American, a one-mile, $100,000 race that is race 4 Saturday. Obviously was the 9-5 second favorite on the original morning line by track oddsmaker Jon White.

Winning Prize has won eight races and $610,840 from 13 starts. When he runs in the Shoemaker, it will be his first start in three months. His previous start was March 8 in the Kilroe Mile.