Prime Attraction takes a shot

ARCADIA, Calif. – In late November, Prime Attraction ran the best race of his career to win the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar.

If that race had been last month, Prime Attraction would be rated as a leading contender for Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles. Instead, Prime Attraction will start in the richest race of his career in the $600,000 Big Cap as an accomplished 5-year-old with more to prove.

Owned by Deron Pearson and trained by Jim Cassidy, Prime Attraction was fifth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 27, but a much brighter second to Big Cap favorite Accelerate in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 3. Prime Attraction was beaten 1 3/4 lengths after a wide trip in the San Pasqual.

Cassidy said he’s encouraged by Prime Attraction’s condition.

“I think he’s doing very good right now,” he said.

Six months ago, a start in the Big Cap would have seemed unlikely for Prime Attraction, who has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $281,545. Prime Attraction was racing on turf with mixed results. He was fourth at 95-1 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 19, but beaten only a head at 7-1 in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf here Oct. 1.

He has raced on dirt in his three starts since the John Henry. The Native Diver on Nov. 25 was Prime Attraction’s first stakes win.

“I think he’s a better dirt horse than turf,” Cassidy said. “He didn’t have that big kick that you need on the turf.”

In the Big Cap, Prime Attraction is part of a projected field of eight led by Accelerate and the millionaires Hoppertunity and Mubtaahij, both trained by Bob Baffert.

Hoppertunity, a six-time stakes winner, was fourth in the San Antonio in his last start. Mubtaahij, second to California Chrome in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in 2016, was third in the San Pasqual last out.

Other candidates are Curlin Road, Fear the Cowboy, Giant Expectations, and Top of the Game. Champion 3-year-old colt West Coast is a candidate for the Dubai World Cup on March 31 and was not entered in the Santa Anita Handicap.

“It’s still the Big Cap,” Cassidy said.

The forecast calls for a possibility of rain during the races Saturday.