D P Racing's Prize Exhibit seeks a return to form via a class drop July 1 in the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3T) for fillies and mares going a mile over the Santa Anita Park lawn.
The Jim Cassidy trainee earned her last win in grade 3 company in January, when she took the Megahertz Stakes (G3T) before running second in the listed Wishing Well Stakes in March. Her past three starts have been at a higher level without success—she finished sixth in the June 10 Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) last out, off a fifth in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes Presented by Longines (G2T) and a sixth in the Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T).
The 5-year-old Showcasing (GB) mare will be ridden from post five in a field of six as the 126-pound highweight by Santiago Gonzalez.
Peter Eurton will send one in good order in Sheeza Milky Way, who chases a three-peat at a mile over the Santa Anita turf. The 4-year-old daughter of Sidney's Candy could certainly go favored in a race that lacks a clear standout, and with all four of her wins coming at a mile on turf, she's well positioned for a big effort with Rafael Bejarano slated to ride her back from the outside.
Sheeza Milky Way won back-to-back allowance events in April and May at Santa Anita. Owned by Sharon Alesia, Robin Christianson, Ciaglia Racing, and Harry Crusberg, she has a terrific turn of foot and would benefit from a fast pace.
Trained by Neil Drysdale, Gainesway Stable's 5-year-old Argentine-bred Madame Stripes rallied from off the pace to be beaten a nose in a one mile turf allowance June 11, and was nipped by half a length before that going 1 1/8 miles after winning by 1 3/4 lengths under mile mile allowance condition in April.
Drysdale also has Brazilian-bred Juno, who will stretch out following a close fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course in the May 27 Monrovia Stakes (G2T). Gary Stevens will ride Juno for the first time for owner Team Valor International. A repeat of her effort two starts back, a third in the April 8 Royal Heroine Stakes, would put her right in the thick of things Saturday. Blessed with an abundance of early speed, she opened up by six lengths early in the Royal Heroine and will likely be joined in the early going by speedy Enola Gray.
Long-fused Place des Vosges shortens up a quarter mile off of a sharp third in a minor turf stakes June 4. Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old daughter of Pleasantly Perfect rallied to be beaten just one length in that 1 1/4-mile Possibly Perfect Stakes June 4. Owned by Abbondanza Racing, she has two seconds and a third from five tries at one mile on turf and will be heavily dependent upon a fast early pace in this spot.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, July 01, 2017, Race 8Entries: Wilshire S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Juno (BRZ) Gary L. Stevens 122 Neil D. Drysdale 4/1 2 2Madame Stripes (ARG) Joseph Talamo 122 Neil D. Drysdale 5/1 3 3Place des Vosges (KY) Corey S. Nakatani 122 Richard Baltas 5/1 4 4Enola Gray (CA) Flavien Prat 122 Philip D'Amato 5/2 5 5Prize Exhibit (GB) Santiago Gonzalez 126 James M. Cassidy 7/2 6 6Sheeza Milky Way (KY) Rafael Bejarano 122 Peter Eurton 3/1
