Prospect Park wins La Jolla Handicap

The January 2014 re-opening of the San Luis Rey Training Center after renovations allowed trainer Clifford Sise to return to the Bonsall facility. On Aug. 9, Sise had his first stakes winner in a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club race since returning to San Luis Rey.

Prospect Park won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap by a 4 1/4-length margin over second-place Om and completed the 1 1/16-mile turf course in 1:41.54.

"He really outclassed those horses," Sise said.

Prospect Park, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, broke fourth among the eight horses in the race. He was third after a quarter of a mile; Om was in the lead at that point a length in front of second-place Pain and Misery and 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Prospect Park, who was still third.

"That was our plan, just lay low off the speed," Sise said. "Kent rode him the way he was told to."

"Speed" refers to horses who go out fast and win only if the

horses whose strength is finishing don't catch up. Pain and Misery finished sixth and could be described as speed. Om, who is best known for winning a 2014 Del Mar race which is the only career loss for 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, would be more of a longer-term threat.

Half a mile into the race, Om had a one-length lead over second-place Pain and Misery, who was two lengths in front of Prospect Park. At three-quarters of a mile, Om led Pain and Misery by half a length while Prospect Park was in third place a length and a half behind Om.

Prospect Park had the lead when he entered the stretch 1:35.68 into the race. He was two lengths ahead of Om, who had relegated Pain and Misery to third place 6 1/2 lengths behind Prospect Park.

"He came home very fast," Sise said. "He finished really good."

The horse who finished third, Royal Albert Hall, crossed the finish line 2 1/2 lengths behind Om and 6 3/4 lengths in back of Prospect Park. Fourth-place Papacoolpapacool finished 8 1/2 lengths behind Prospect Park.

"Very, very happy," Sise said. "Best I've ever seen him."

The win was the third career victory for Prospect Park, who first raced on July 26, 2014, at Del Mar and finished sixth. His first win occurred Dec. 27 at Santa Anita Park and he also won Jan. 30 at Santa Anita.

"The next race on a mile and an eighth will be even better," Sise said.

That 1 1/8-mile race on Del Mar's turf course will be the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby which will be contested Sept. 6.

"He's ready," Sise said. "We've got to wait."

The La Jolla Handicap was Sise's eighth stakes win at Del Mar and his first since 2004. The win was Sise's first ever in a graded stakes race at Del Mar and his first graded stakes win since Idiot Proof won the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes at Santa Anita Park in October 2007.

Idiot Proof was owned by Marty and Pam Wygod, who also own and bred Prospect Park. Prospect Park was foaled in Kentucky on March 20, 2012, and was sired by Tapit out of Quiet Romance.

Sise has 38 horses stabled at San Luis Rey. "Good place to train," he said. "Nice for the horses, good racetrack."

Sise took a hiatus from public training in 2011 to become the farm manager and trainer at Rancho Paseana, the Rancho Santa Fe facility owned by Jenny Craig at the time. After two years at Rancho Paseana, he spent a short time training in Saudi Arabia before returning to the San Luis Rey Training Center when it re-opened.

"San Luis Rey's had a great record," Sise said. "Everyone's getting pretty fit there."