Argentine star Winning Prize reverted to front-running tactics to notch his first G1 win in North America in Saturday's $351,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.
A three-time G1 winner in his native Argentina, the Neil Drysdale-trained Winning Prize followed up his success in the Arcadia Stakes to become the second straight Argentinean-bred to land the Arcadia/Kilroe double after Suggestive Boy in 2013.
Winning Prize showed his sharp early speed for Corey Nakatani to easily take command before Lochte threw down a serious bid down the lane.
Winning Prize rose to the occasion and rebuffed his rival by a half-length to run the turf mile in 1:32.4, the second-fastest in Kilroe history.
"That horse is just quality,” Drysdale said. “
“He's changed and relaxes in his races. He's becoming more adaptable the more we race him."
Winning Prize now boasts a record of 13-8-1-1 for $610,840.
* IN FLORIDA, last year’s Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice came back to capture Saturday's G2 $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap, edging runner-up Golden Ticket by a head in his first appearance since a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
"It looked like they took a couple big runs at him and he fought back," trainer Todd Pletcher said.
"It was a heck of a horse race and a huge effort off the layoff.”
Pletcher said options for Palace Malice included New Orleans Handicap (March 29), or Oaklawn Handicap ( April 12) with the G1 Met Mile at Belmont in June long range.
